Swedish Embassy in Baghdad hit by protesters

The protesters were angered by the plan to burn a copy of the Quran. Pic/AP

Protesters angered by the planned burning of a copy of the Quran stormed the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad early on Thursday, breaking into the compound and lighting a small fire and setting off a diplomatic furor.

Online videos showed demonstrators at the diplomatic post waving flags and signs showing the influential Iraqi Shiite cleric and political leader Muqtada al-Sadr ahead of a planned burning of the Islamic holy book on Thursday in Stockholm by an Iraqi asylum-seeker who burned a copy of the Quran in a previous demonstration last month.

Following the incident, the Swedish Embassy announced it had closed to visitors without specifying when it would reopen. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said those responsible for the arson will be prosecute.

However, he also said that the Iraq would cut off diplomatic ties should the Quran burning go forward.

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