Iraq govt urged to protect diplomatic missions, staff

The Kingdom has condemned the attack carried out by a group of protesters against its embassy in Baghdad. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq to the Kingdom, Mohammed Adnan Mahmoud Al Khafaji and conveyed Bahrain’s protest over the attack. The Assistant Undersecretary of GCC and Arab Countries Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Mohammed Jameel, stressed to the Charge d’Affaires of Iraq, that the Iraqi government is fully responsible for the protection of the Bahraini Embassy and Consulate in Iraq and all personnel operating there in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961.

Ambassador Yusuf Mohammed Jameel added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes the statements issued by the Iraqi government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq, rejecting this attack. He stressed the importance of holding accountable the perpetrators and preventing the recurrence of such practices. A memorandum of protest was handed over by the Assistant Undersecretary to the Chargé d’Affaires.

At least 54 people were reportedly arrested after dozens of Iraqi protesters stormed the Bahraini embassy in Baghdad. Iraqi authorities deployed additional troops to disperse the demonstrators and secure the embassy, which sources said appeared to have been targeted by Kata’ib Hizbollah, one of the most powerful pro-Iranian armed factions in Iraq. Although shots were heard ringing out in the vicinity of the embassy for about eight minutes, no casualties were immediately reported. Iraqi security forces in Baghdad were put on high alert and roads leading to the embassy were closed to prevent more protesters gathering there. Iraqi Interior Minister Yassin Al Yassiri went to the embassy in an attempt to “calm the situation” and meet the Bahraini ambassador. Security was heightened in nearby areas.

Saad Maan, the official spokesman for the Ministry of Interior said Al Yassari had stressed that the security of embassies and diplomatic missions is a red line that must not be crossed under any circumstances. Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi’s office issued a statement yesterday that read: “The Iraqi government is serious in preventing the violation of the law and will never tolerate such acts, and affirms its absolute rejection of any action threatening diplomatic missions, their security and safety of their employees.”

The General Secretariat of the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC) expressed its strong condemnation of the attack and the subsequent sabotage acts. It called on the Iraqi Government to exert all its efforts to protect diplomatic missions, in accordance with international law and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

Council of Representatives Speaker Fawziya Zainal also strongly condemned the attack. She stressed parliamentary support to all measures undertaken by the Kingdom, adding that the acts of sabotage and their instigators have to face legal action.  She underlined zero tolerance with any act that threatens Bahrain’s sovereignty or compromises relations binding the two brotherly countries. 

UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Anwar Gargash condemned the attack and said it represents a dangerous, legal and political escalation. “We call upon the Iraqi Government to assume its responsibilities and legal commitments regarding the protection of diplomatic work and headquarters of diplomatic missions in the capital and other Iraqi towns,” he said on his twitter account.