Updated 16:57 | Published 15:29
News
Protests have broken out at Sweden's embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, after yesterday's Koran burning in central Stockholm.
The protesters stormed the building and burned a Swedish flag.
"Our embassy personnel are safe and the Foreign Ministry is in constant contact with them," writes the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in an email to Aftonbladet.
A number of people protested on Thursday afternoon at the Swedish embassy in Iraq's capital, Bagdad, after yesterday's Koran burning in central Stockholm.
In a clip from Sky News Arabia, several people appeared to have climbed onto a building belonging to the embassy.
Among other things, the folk choir was heard chanting "yes to the Koran". At one point in the same clip, a Swedish flag was also seen burning.
According to unconfirmed reports, the protesters also destroyed windows and doors of the embassy building.
UD: Well informed
The demonstrators are said to have acted following a call from the Shia Muslim leader Muqtada al-Sadr to boycott Sweden and expel the Swedish ambassador, writes Expressen.
The Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has commented on the events in an email to Aftonbladet:
"We are well informed about the situation. Our embassy staff are safe and the Foreign Ministry is in constant contact with them," it writes, among other things.
After about 15 minutes, Iraqi news media reported that the protesters had withdrawn from the Swedish embassy. The protesters reportedly left the site peacefully after Iraqi security forces arrived, the AFP news agency said.
Erdogan condemned
The Koran burning in Stockholm on Wednesday has aroused outraged feelings among Muslims in several countries.
In Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the action in strong terms.
- We will ultimately teach the arrogant Westerners that it is not freedom of speech to insult Muslims, Erdogan said in a televised appearance.
Inga kommentarer:
Skicka en kommentar