Iraq assures foreign diplomatic missions of their security

Iraq Govt: Will not allow recurrence of storming of Swedish Embassy. Committed to Vienna Convention, protecting diplomatic missions. Any similar act will be legally accountable.

The Iraqi Government sought to reassure diplomatic missions in the country of their security on July 21, saying it would not allow a recurrence of the storming of the Swedish embassy.

The statement from the Foreign Ministry came a day after hundreds of protesters stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad, setting it on fire in protest against plans to burn a copy of the Koran in Stockholm. Iraq also expelled the Swedish ambassador.

Also Read | Iraq to prosecute protesters who started a fire in Swedish Embassy during protests

"The Iraqi Government is fully committed to the Vienna Convention that regulates diplomatic relations among countries and assures all resident diplomatic missions of their security and protection," the Ministry said.

"What happened to the Embassy of the Kingdom of Sweden in Baghdad cannot be repeated, and any similar act will be subject to legal accountability," it added.