Iraq summons Swedish envoy over Quran burning

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry on Thursday summoned the Swedish ambassador over the burning of the Muslim holy book Quran as Muslims worldwide marked the festival of Eid al-Adha, reported Xinhua.

The ministry voiced its strong protest against the Swedish government's permission for an extremist to burn a copy of the Quran in the Swedish capital of Stockholm, the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry also called on the Swedish government to take necessary measures to stop the repeated insults to the Quran, the statement added.

Meanwhile, Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid said in a statement that "we follow with great anger the irresponsible behavior that is being practiced in Sweden," adding that "these attacks and abuses have nothing to do with freedom of thought and belief."

On Thursday afternoon, dozens of Iraqi protesters stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad following a call for an "angry demonstration" by the powerful Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, according to Iraqi media reports.

So far, there has been no report of serious property damage or injuries.

A Swedish citizen of Iraqi origin reportedly tore up a copy of the Quran and burned it in front of a Stockholm mosque on Wednesday during a demonstration authorized by the Swedish authorities, which sparked furious reactions from Muslims across the world.