Sweden's Moderate Party gives up attempt to form government

The leader of Sweden's Moderate Party, Ulf Kristersson, said on Sunday he had been unable to get enough support for a centre-right coalition government, handing back to parliament's speaker the task of finding another candidate for prime minister.

"I have done what I can, for now," Kristersson said. "I'm still ready to be prime minister and to lead an Alliance government."

If other candidates fail Kristersson can be handed a second chance.

Politics has been deadlocked since a general election on Sept. 9 which left the centre-left and centre-right blocs virtually tied and the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats holding the balance of power.