German minister cancels Iraq trip after anti-Sweden riots

A planned trip to Iraq by Germany's defence minister was cancelled on short notice on Sunday over security concerns following violent riots at the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad, reported dpa.

German police officials advised Defence Minister Boris Pistorius to call off the trip, according to the Defence Ministry in Berlin.

According to German officials, further protests in Baghdad and an escalation of the situation could not be ruled out. The decision was also taken to protect the staff of the German mission in Baghdad.

Rioters in Baghdad on Thursday stormed the Swedish Embassy and set fire to the building in apparent outrage over plans by an activist in Stockholm to burn a copy of the Muslim holy book, the Koran.

Iraq had earlier expelled the Swedish ambassador amid an escalating crisis over the desecration of the Koran in Sweden.

Criticism of religions is covered by freedom of expression in Sweden. However, the extent to which setting fire to the Koran can be considered incitement has never been examined by a court in the Scandinavian country.