Sweden: Anna Lindh was a popular politician and active campaigner for Sweden to join the euro.
Ms Lindh (46), foreign minister since October 1998, rose swiftly in the ruling Social Democratic Party and was tipped as a possible successor to the Prime Minister, Mr Göran Persson.
Always enthusiastic about the EU, she played a high-profile role in promoting Swedish membership of the euro, a highly controversial issue, appearing on almost every Vote Yes poster up and down Sweden.
She also spoke out forcefully in EU forums on human rights, a traditional Swedish concern. She dubbed President Bush a "lone ranger" for going to war in Iraq and criticised Italy's current EU presidency, saying the Prime Minister Mr Silvio Berlusconi did not enjoy wide support.
"She has been a very popular and skilled foreign minister," said Mr Peter Eriksson, head of the Green Party which has fought successfully against the government's pro-euro campaign, speaking prior to Ms Lindh's death. "She has raised Sweden's profile overseas in the EU, she has a reputation for competence and as a good negotiator."
Born on June 19th, 1957, in Stockholm, Ms Lindh studied law at Uppsala University. She became a municipal councillor in 1977, and entered parliament five years later. She was a member of parliament's Standing Committee on Taxation. She was president of a home affairs committee for the Party of European Socialists in 1992-94.
She followed a traditional career path in Sweden's main political party, the Social Democrats, and was soon marked out as a rising star. From 1984 to 1990 she was president of the Social Democratic Youth League.
Bespectacled and blonde, Ms Lindh was once a favourite on Swedish political talk shows, partly because of her appearance and as a representative of young people. She was seen as a consistent, solid performer whose career had had no upsets.
From 1986 to 1990 she presided over a government council on alcohol and drug policy, and in 1987-89 was vice-chairwoman of the International Union of Socialist Youth.
In 1991 Ms Lindh, who spoke English and French, graduated to the heavyweight policy-making executive committee of the Social Democrats. She gained her first cabinet post in 1994 when she became environment minister, a post involving extensive work with the UN and the EU.
Outside politics, Ms Lindh enjoyed the theatre and arts. She also travelled widely in Asia and was particularly interested in Japan. She was married to a former Swedish civil affairs minister, Bo Holmberg, and had two sons, Filip and David. - (Reuters)