Iraq Condemns Burning of Quran in Copenhagen, Says Danish Mission Staff Have Left Baghdad

Demonstrations have raged across Iran and Iraq after Denmark and Sweden allowed the burning of the Quran under rules protecting free speech. (EPA)
Demonstrations have raged across Iran and Iraq after Denmark and Sweden allowed the burning of the Quran under rules protecting free speech. (EPA)
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Iraq Condemns Burning of Quran in Copenhagen, Says Danish Mission Staff Have Left Baghdad

Demonstrations have raged across Iran and Iraq after Denmark and Sweden allowed the burning of the Quran under rules protecting free speech. (EPA)
Demonstrations have raged across Iran and Iraq after Denmark and Sweden allowed the burning of the Quran under rules protecting free speech. (EPA)

Iraq condemned the burning of a copy of the holy Quran in front of its embassy in Denmark on Monday and said Danish staff at the embassy in Baghdad had left Iraq after protests there.

Demonstrations have raged across Iran and Iraq after Denmark and Sweden allowed the burning of the Quran under rules protecting free speech. Protesters in Iraq set the Swedish embassy in Baghdad alight on Thursday.

Two anti-Islam protesters set fire to a copy of Islam's holy book in front of the Iraqi embassy in the Danish capital on Monday.

Iraq's foreign ministry called on authorities of EU countries to "quickly reconsider so-called freedom of expression and the right to demonstrate".

Protesters gathered in Baghdad on Saturday amid heavy security, with bridges leading to the Green Zone that houses many foreign embassies shut after an attempt by demonstrators to get to the Danish Embassy.

An Iraqi foreign ministry spokesperson said Danish staff at the embassy had left Iraq two days ago.

He did not elaborate on the reason or the exact timing and the Danish government did not immediately comment.



Militants Killed and Wounded in Eastern Syria, Media and War Monitor Say

The Observatory said the strikes targeted headquarters and warehouses in the city of Deir Ezzor and surrounding towns. (AFP via Getty Images file)
The Observatory said the strikes targeted headquarters and warehouses in the city of Deir Ezzor and surrounding towns. (AFP via Getty Images file)
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Militants Killed and Wounded in Eastern Syria, Media and War Monitor Say

The Observatory said the strikes targeted headquarters and warehouses in the city of Deir Ezzor and surrounding towns. (AFP via Getty Images file)
The Observatory said the strikes targeted headquarters and warehouses in the city of Deir Ezzor and surrounding towns. (AFP via Getty Images file)

A number of militants were killed and wounded in eastern Syria early Sunday near a strategic border crossing with Iraq in apparent airstrikes, pro-government media and an opposition war monitor reported.

Pan-Arab television network Al-Mayadeen cited unnamed sources saying that at least eight Syrians were killed in the strike by the Bou Kamal crossing in Israeli airstrikes.

It was unclear how they confirmed Israeli jets were behind the strikes.

Meanwhile, Britain-based opposition war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said five airstrikes killed at least 15 militants, among them leaders, and wounded at least 20 others. The Observatory said the strikes targeted headquarters and warehouses in the city of Deir Ezzor and surrounding towns.

Pro-government radio station Sham FM said that prior to the blasts heard in Deir Ezzor, explosions were heard at a US military base in northeastern Syria following rocket and drone attacks.

None of the reports could be independently verified.

The US military’s Central Command, which has launched airstrikes on Iranian military personnel and Tehran-backed militant groups in Syria’s eastern Deir Ezzor province, didn’t immediately return a request for comment.

The Israeli military doesn’t usually acknowledge its strike on Syria. However, when it does so, it says it targets Iran-backed militants.