German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer on Thursday called on the US-led coalition forced in Iraq to protect diplomatic missions in the war-torn country after looters poured into the German embassy and a French cultural center in Baghdad.
"We expect that the allies, who are responsible for security, will extend security to international diplomatic missions," Fischer said after talks with his Japanese counterpart Yoriko Kawaguchi in Berlin.
Hundreds of looters poured onto the streets of central Baghdad and dozens of them sacked the German embassy in Karada Street and the French cultural center in Abu Nawwas Street.
The looters, who entered the embassy in cars and even on horseback, seized anything they could find, including furniture, refrigerators and video machines.
The cultural center was also looted, though the French embassy was sealed off by barricades.
France and Germany have been strongly opposed to the US-led war in Iraq.
(Xinhua News Agency April 11, 2003)
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