Iran press/Middle East: Iraqi violent protesters on Friday (September 7) stormed the Iranian consulate in the Iraqi southeastern city of Basra. The protesters have also targeted some governmental offices in the city since the outbreak of the protests on last Monday.
'Like all diplomats I naturally react with condemnation to any violence directed against diplomatic missions, as we have witnessed in Basra and Baghdad in recent days,' UK Ambassador in Baghdad Jonathan Wilks said in a statement published on the embassy Facebook page reported IRNA.
'Diplomacy is an important way of avoiding conflict and managing tensions. But that requires a safe space for diplomats to operate and build common understandings based on international standards.'
'The way through this tense time is for Iraqis to take an Iraqi national patriotic approach, build bridges with each other across sect and ethnicity and be strong and confident enough together to deal with foreigners as potential partners, not as inherent threats,' he said.
Rejecting accusations on Iran, the diplomat said, 'Iraqis should be reassured that conspiracy theories about US or Iranian hegemony in Iraq cannot be taken seriously when Sayyid Moqtada al Sadr and Sai’roon win an election and play a lead role in forming the government.'
On Thursday evening Sep 8, a number of protesters attacked and torched Iraqi political party offices and headquarters, including Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Related News: Iraqi Media: "Riyadh implicated in Iran consulate incident in Basra"
Condemning attack on Iranian consulate in the port city of Basra in southern Iraq, Tehran ask Baghdad to increase security for diplomatic buildings.
Meanwhile ,Broadcasting several audio files, Iraqi Alahad TV channel revealed the involvement of Saudi intelligence agency in the recent unrest in the Iraqi city of Basra and its relation with some mercenaries in the city's security organization.
Related News: Kata'ib Hezbollah condemns attack on Iran consulate
Attack on Consulate General of the Islamic Republic Iran inspired and arose different reactions from the political parties and figures including Members of Iraqi Kata'ib Hezbollah.
Furthermore , Deputy head of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Committee (Al-Hashd Al-Sha'abi), said that the US embassy and consulate have been involved in recent unrest in Basra.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, has ordered an inquiry into the violence, while the parliament announced it will hold an emergency session on Saturday.
The city has been hit by protests against poor public services since early July.
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