Swedish finance minister blasts Portugal over debt crisis

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Swedish Finance Minister Anders Borg said on Thursday Portugal deserved sharp criticism for its handling of its debt crisis and said it was too early to say whether Sweden would join the aid effort.

"They should have requested aid much earlier," he told a journalists. "We have reason to direct sharp criticism against the Portuguese. They have placed themselves and Europe in a very difficult situation."

Borg said Portugal should have requested aid already at the end of last year and estimated that the country would need aid of between 15 and 20 billion euros (13-18 billion pounds) in the coming months. Sweden would need more clarity on the situation before deciding whether to join the rescue, he added.

Portugal's caretaker government said on Wednesday it would seek financing from the European Union in an abrupt turnaround after resisting a bailout for months despite sharply deteriorating financial conditions.