Sweden ends military service

SWEDEN yesterday abolished a 100-year tradition of compulsory military service for men during peacetime.

The new policy means that required military service will be applied only if Sweden feels threatened. To qualify for the armed forces, volunteers will now have to undergo rigorous training.

In recent decades, the number of conscripts has dwindled because the government has granted dispensation to many, mainly as a result of more lenient policies. The military says there are about 1,700 active conscripts.