Sweden's ruling Christian Democrats party have released a statement saying that the mandatory sterilisation of people undergoing gender reassignment surgery should be dropped.

Writing for Dagens Nyheter, Sweden's largest daily newspaper, party leader Göran Hägglund and vice-presidents Maria Larsson and David Lega say:

'We believe that even if there is an argument against allowing people who undergo gender reassignment surgery to become parents in their original sex, these reasons are not enough to justify the continued demand for sterilization.

'Therefore it is our view that the demand for sterilization on change of sex should be dropped.

'Many transsexuals face hatred and fear which goes against the principle that all people are of equal value - the guiding principle for our traditional Christian beliefs, and therefore for the Christian Democrats.'

The statement comes one month after the centre-right party were heavily criticised by MEPs and LGBT organisations after opposing proposed amendments to the country's current gender-reassignment legislation.

The Christian Democrats had agreed on stipulations regarding marital status and citizenship but would not compromise on the issue of sterilization.