Iraq condemns attack on Iran’s consulate in southern Najaf - Foreign Ministry

NAJAF, Iraq: Iraq condemned an attack on Iran’s consulate in the southern city of Najaf, its state news agency said early on Thursday, citing the foreign ministry, after the building was stormed and set ablaze by Iraqi protesters the previous day.

Foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi, quoted by state news agency IRNA, condemned the attack and “emanded decisive, effective and responsible action... against destructive agents and aggressors.”

“Diplomatic missions operating in Iraq are highly respected and appreciated,” it added, stressing that the incident did not reflect Iraq’s perspective.

Wednesday’s attack was “aimed at damaging the historical relations between Iraq and Iran and with rest of the countries,” the ministry said in a statement.

Iran demanded Iraq take decisive action against “aggressors” behind an arson attack by protesters on its consulate in the neighboring country’s holy city of Najaf.

Iraqi protesters torched the Iranian consulate in the holy city of Najaf on Wednesday in a dramatic escalation of anti-government demonstrations that have left more than 350 people dead.

Tall flames and thick clouds of smoke rose from the entrance of the consulate in the southern city, AFP’s correspondent there said.

“Victory to Iraq” and “Iran out” protesters chanted, outraged at the country they blame for propping up a government they've been demonstrating against for nearly two months. Iraq’s capital and its Shiite-majority south have been gripped by the largest grassroots protests since the US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003.

The change of regime 16 years ago opened the door for Baghdad’s eastern neighbor to develop tremendous economic, political and military sway, now slammed by protesters as overreach.

Iran’s consulate in Iraq’s second holy city of Karbala was targeted earlier this month, and security forces defending the site shot four demonstrators dead at the time.

In Najaf on Wednesday, units fired tear gas that wounded several dozen but ultimately retreated as hundreds of people encircled the consulate and lit tires, blankets, cardboard and other items, AFP's correspondent said.

The protesters broke into the building itself, which had been apparently evacuated of its Iranian staff.

The fires capped a deadly day in Iraq, where two protesters were shot dead in the capital, according to medical and security sources.

In Baghdad’s colonnaded streets, young demonstrators donned helmets and medical masks to face off once more against security forces unleashing tear gas.

An AFP correspondent reported volleys of gunfire from behind concrete barricades where the security forces were deployed.