Iraq: US forces fire tear gas at Baghdad embassy protesters
Protests at the US embassy in Iraq have entered the second
day after a group camped out overnight. The US has flown in a rapid response
Marines group to reinforce the embassy.
US security forces guarding the Baghdad embassy fired tear
gas at pro-Iranian protesters outside the building on Wednesday.
Tensions have escalated dramatically after thousands of
protesters attempted to storm the US embassy in Iraq the day previous.
A large group camped outside the building overnight, angry
at US airstrikes that killed 25 pro-Iran fighters over the weekend. They set up
about 50 tents and even portable bathrooms after marching unimpeded into the
high-security Green Zone.
US marines worked to disperse the crowd as more people
turned up for a second day of action, some of whom lit a fire on the roof of
the reception area.
In response to the tear gas, some members of the crowd
hurled stones towards the embassy. Several protesters were reported injured.