STOCKHOLM : Mobile phone maker Sony Ericsson announced on Friday it was cutting 2,000 jobs worldwide after reporting an operating loss in the second quarter due to difficult market conditions.

"We're going to cut 2,000 jobs within a year all over the world, out of 12,000 employees," spokeswoman Susanne Andersson told AFP.

Sony Ericsson posted an operating loss of two million euros (3.1 million dollars) in the second quarter, compared to a profit of 315 million euros in the same period of last year.

Net profit plunged by 97 percent to six million euros from 220 million a year earlier, while sales fell by 9.4 percent to 2.82 billion euros.

The group has for the past year been trying to develop its business on emerging markets in order to reduce dependence on its traditional European outlets.

As a result it has sold more low-end phones, where prices are lower and the competition is tougher than in the high-end segment, the company said.

Sony Ericsson, which is not quoted on the stock market, was formed through the merger of Ericsson of Sweden, world leader in mobile phone networks, and Japanese electronics giant Sony.

- AFP /ls