Protesters interrupt coal debate in Swedish Parliament

STOCKHOLM (AP) - Unruly protesters briefly interrupted a debate Tuesday in the Swedish Parliament on the future of state-owned utility Vattenfall's coal assets in Germany.

Swedish news agency TT says demonstrators in the spectators' gallery chanted "leave the coal in the ground" and one of them squirted what looked like ketchup at the lawmakers below.

TT says the protesters were removed by security guards and the discussions resumed within 10 minutes.

Lawmakers were discussing the proposed sale of Vattenfall's coal mines and coal-fired power plants in Germany to Czech investment group EPH.

Environmental activists say the government should stop the sale and close the mines to avoid heat-trapping carbon emissions.

Enterprise and Innovation Minister Mikael Damberg told lawmakers the government is still assessing the proposed deal.