Iraq assures countries that their diplomatic missions are safe after embassy storming

The Iraqi government on Saturday sought to reassure countries that their diplomatic missions were safe, hours after protesters tried to storm the Danish embassy.

Iraq’s statement comes after hundreds of protesters stormed and set fire to the Swedish embassy in Baghdad on Thursday in protest against the burning of a copy of the Quran in Stockholm.

The embassy storming was led by supporters of Shia cleric and political leader Muqtada al-Sadr.

The same day, Iraq cut ties with Sweden and expelled the Swedish ambassador, while withdrawing its envoy from Stockholm.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms its full commitment to the Vienna Convention that regulates diplomatic relations between countries, and renews its message to resident diplomatic missions that the Iraqi government is responsible for providing protection and security for diplomatic staff working in all missions," a statement said.

The ministry added that any similar storming will be subject to legal accountability, whilst reiterating its condemnation the burning of the Quran and the Iraqi flag in Sweden.

Early on Saturday, hundreds of protesters attempted to storm Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, which houses foreign embassies and the seat of Iraq's government, following reports of the burning of a Quran carried out by a ultranationalist group in front of the Iraqi Embassy in Copenhagen.

They were pushed back by security forces, who blocked the Jumhuriya bridge leading to the Green Zone, preventing them from reaching the Danish Embassy.

Arab and Muslim-majority nations strongly condemned the repeated desecration of the Quran in Sweden and other European countries such as Denmark, saying it only caused division and was a deliberate provocation against Muslims.

Some have called for action to be taken against Stockholm.

(Agencies contributed to this report)