Iraq condemns attack on Turkish flag in Basra

An Iraqi Foreign Ministry statement said on Sunday that a group of 200 people staged a protest in front of Turkish Consulate General in Basra in a move to express their views on Turkey’s policies.

“We back freedom of expression under law and order, however we condemn the move of some demonstrators to set Turkish flag on fire,” the Iraqi foreign ministry statement said.

Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Erdoğan said on Sunday that Turkey would continue to monitor developments regarding the attack on its consulate in Basra city.

Erdoğan said that the protest in front of the Turkish consulate was held by some extreme groups, and the Turkish foreign ministry took up the matter with the Iraqi foreign minister.

“The Iraqi foreign minister said they would catch the assailants and expressed regret over the incident,” Premier Erdoğan told press before leaving for Pakistan on Sunday.

Sunday, May 20, 2012