ABBA duo settle musical dispute

Two members of iconic pop group ABBA have settled a dispute with a Swedish playwright over one of their popular musicals.

Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, the two male members of the Swedish quartet, and playwright Carl-Johan Seth said they have settled their differences regarding the musical Kristina from Duvemala, the trio said in a joint statement Monday.

"We are glad that we have agreed and that we can continue to be friends," the statement said. No other details were disclosed.

At the centre of the battle was author credits for the musical, which was seen by more than one million people in Sweden and, at one point, was considered for a Broadway run.

Inspired by a book series by Vilhelm Moberg, the musical told the story of a poor, 19th-century Swedish family thatimmigrates to the U.S.

Seth had claimed that he was the main author behind the musical's script.

Andersson and Ulvaeus disputed this, arguing that the musical's director, Lars Rudfolfsson, and another writer namedJan Mark should receive the writing credits because they had to overhaul Seth's early script.

After a lower Swedish court ruled in favour of the ABBA duo, Seth launched an appeal in 2007. A lawyer for the playwright told local media on Monday that the playwright's appeal has been dropped because of thesettlement.

Since finding success in the 1970s and 1980s with ABBA colleagues Agnetha Faltskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Andersson and Ulvaeus have become involved in the theatre world.

Their most famous theatre collaboration has been the blockbuster Mamma Mia, a musical about a young bride who searches for the identity ofher father by inviting three of her mother's former beaus to her wedding.

The production, which weavessome of ABBA's biggest hits into thestoryline,has been seen by millions of theatregoers around the globe and spawned a feature film adaptation set to hit cinemas this summer.