A national interfaith council has been created in Sweden to highlight the need to generate understanding about religion, and response to those who are hostile to it.

The Lutheran Church of Sweden will today mark the 50th anniversary of its decision in 1958 to ordain women as priests, and cathedrals in all of the church's 13 dioceses are to hold services to celebrate the anniversary.

Religious communities can and do make a positive contribution to peace and justice in Africa, say diplomatic representatives meeting with Nordic church leaders at an interfaith meeting on women's development priorities.