Yesterday, Iraq expelled the Swedish ambassador in protest of a planned burning of the Quran in Stockholm that prompted protesters to storm the Swedish embassy in Baghdad.

Iraq’s state news agency reported yesterday that Ericsson’s working permit in Iraq had been suspended.

But today, an advisor for the Iraqi prime minister denied that report.

“All contractual agreements made by the government of Iraq will be respected and no company have been suspended from its work, including Ericsson,” Farhad Alaaldin said.

Two protesters in Stockholm yesterday kicked and partly destroyed a book they said was the Quran but did not set it alight. Sweden has, however, experienced a number of Quran burnings in recent years, mostly by far-right and anti-Muslim activists.

“The incidents in Sweden, involving the burning of the Holy Quran, is deeply offensive to the religious beliefs and values cherished by Muslims around the world,” an Ericsson spokesman said in an email.

“This act does not reflect Ericsson’s core value of respect.”

Ericsson, which has around 30 full-time employees in Iraq, said the safety of its staff, partners, and customers was its top priority.

“We respect all cultures and religions, and we place great importance on respecting our customers and our employees – and the communities in which we operate,” the spokesman said.

“It is deeply problematic when freedom of expression turns to alienation between different cultures or religions.”

Iraq is a relatively small market by sales for Ericsson.