Swedish embassy in Baghdad stormed and set on fire in protests over Quran burning VIDEO

Protesters angered by the planned burning of a copy of the Quran stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad early on Thursday, July 20, breaking into the compound and lighting a small fire.

Online videos showed demonstrators at the diplomatic post waving flags and signs showing the influential Iraqi Shiite cleric and political leader Muqtada al-Sadr ahead of a planned burning of the Islamic holy book Thursday in Stockholm, Le Monde reports.

As dawn broke, police and other security officials gathered at the embassy as small plumes of smoke still rose. Firefighters tried to douse the flames from the ladder of a fire truck. Some demonstrators still stood at the site, holding placards showing al-Sadr's face, apparently left alone by police.

The Swedish Foreign Ministry said in a statement that "our embassy staff are in safety," without elaborating. "We condemn all attacks on diplomats and staff from international organizations," the ministry said. "Attacks on embassies and diplomats constitute a serious violation of the Vienna Convention. Iraqi authorities have the responsibility to protect diplomatic missions and diplomatic staff."