BEIRUT,  (Xinhua) -- The Swedish foreign minister on Sunday expressed regret over the recent attack on the Quran in Stockholm, Lebanon's National News Agency reported.

During a phone call with his Lebanese counterpart Abdallah Bou Habib, Tobias Billstrom expressed Sweden's regret over the desecration of the Quran and its insult to Islamic beliefs and symbols.

Bou Habib welcomed the position and encouraged Sweden to take additional "practical" steps to reduce feelings of growing hatred and Islamophobia.

On Thursday, an Iraqi refugee, who burned a copy of the Quran last month, stomped on the holy book during a demonstration in the Swedish capital.