Gunfire erupts near Iran embassy in Baghdad

Gunfire erupted near the Iranian embassy in central Baghdad on Tuesday, with contradictory reports over whether the mission had been targeted and even a claim that a guard had committed suicide.

An embassy employee who had been at the scene said the gunfire wounded a guard when it targeted the mission, near the heavily fortified Green Zone, where the Iraqi government is headquartered.

But spokesman Ali Naraqi said the shooting had nothing to do with the embassy.

And an interior ministry official said an Iraqi soldier guarding the embassy had shot himself to death at its entrance, emptying his weapon’s magazine.

Witnesses reported heavy gunfire, and said security forces closed roads and bridges in the area.

More than 650 people have been killed in attacks and clashes since the beginning of the monthin Iraq, and over 1,600 since January 1, according to AFP figures based on security and medical sources.