The Swedish foreign minister, Anna Lindh, has died of knife wounds suffered in an attack at a Stockholm department store on Wednesday.
Doctors fought for 10 hours to save Ms. Lindh's life, but they say she succumbed to severe internal bleeding and liver damage that she suffered in the knife attack.
No one has been arrested, but police are hunting for a suspect described by witnesses as a "Swedish-looking" man who wore an army camouflage jacket. Police say they do not believe the killing was politically motivated.
Ms. Lindh was a leading figure in the campaign in favor of Sweden adopting the euro currency. Swedes are scheduled to vote on the issue in a referendum on Sunday.
The killing rekindled memories of the 1986 murder of Swedish Prime Minister Olaf Palme, who was shot to death as he walked home from a movie theater. That crime has never been solved.