The Turkish Foreign Ministry expressed hope Saturday for the settlement of a diplomatic rift between Saudi Arabia and Sweden.

Releasing a statement, foreign ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgiç said: "We are watching the latest diplomatic tension between Saudi Arabia and Sweden with sadness."

Saudi Arabia has recalled its ambassador in Stockholm, the Swedish Foreign Ministry has said, in an indication of sour relations between the military partners.

The move on March 11 followed a diplomatic row between Sweden and Riyadh over the Gulf state's human rights record and the ending of a controversial military arms deal.

"Saudi Arabia's recalling of Stockholm ambassador reveals the sensitivity of the situation," said Bilgic and added it is useful take this sensitivity into consideration when dealing with the situation.

Sweden's Foreign Ministry confirmed the reason Saudi Arabia had recalled its ambassador to Stockholm, Ibrahim S. I. Alibrahim, was because of Sweden's criticism of Saudi Arabia's human rights record.

Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom tweeted in January that Saudi Arabia's flogging of blogger Raif Badawi had been a "cruel attempt to silence modern forms of expression."