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Militants strike churches in Iraq

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  • Militants strike churches in Iraq

    Washington Times, DC
    Aug 2 2004

    Militants strike churches in Iraq

    By Betsy Pisik
    THE WASHINGTON TIMES


    BAGHDAD - Muslim militants bombed Christians in Baghdad and the
    northern city of Mosul yesterday, in near-simultaneous explosions
    timed to coincide with Sunday services.
    Eleven persons died and more than 40 were wounded in the attacks
    on five churches in the two cities. It was the first major assault on
    churches in Iraq since the 15-month-old insurgency began.

    Hind Zakko and her father, Joseph, were listening to the Sunday
    sermon at the Assyrian Catholic Church in Baghdad when they heard the
    explosion rip through the old building and felt shards of stained
    glass on their heads.
    "It was horrible; it was so loud," said Miss Zakko as she dabbed
    blood from her father's head, hands and neck, which had small cuts.
    "Look at you," she fussed. "Who would do this? Who would bomb a
    church?"
    Militants targeted four churches in Baghdad and one in Mosul.
    U.S. forces, Iraqi police and civilians also were attacked
    yesterday.
    Three roadside bombs nationwide killed four persons, including a
    U.S. soldier, and wounded six, police said. A suicide car bombing
    outside a police station in Mosul killed at least five persons and
    injured 53.
    The bloodshed came after a night of clashes between U.S. troops
    and insurgents that killed 12 Iraqis and wounded 39 in Fallujah.
    Because Sunday is a normal workday in Iraq, Sunday worship
    services typically are held in the evening.
    "It's a new step down for the people who are doing this. Those
    people inside were praying," said Col. Mike Murray, commander of the
    3rd Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division, which has primary
    responsibility for patrolling Baghdad.
    Behind him, two priests in black robes embraced near a ruined
    Catholic church, one of them seemingly oblivious to the slash across
    his cheek and blood staining his white collar.
    U.S. surveillance helicopters took to the skies, as ambulances
    crisscrossed the streets of the capital to get to hospitals.
    Christians poured into the streets as the sun set, shocked that
    anyone would target houses of worship.
    "I don't think we feel safe anymore," said Samer Sabberi, a
    17-year-old Christian who lives next to a graceful Armenian
    cathedral. "My family didn't talk about it, but now they have been."
    In Mosul, a car bomb blew up next to a Catholic church while
    worshippers were coming out of Mass, police Maj. Raed Abdel Basit
    told Reuters news agency. Several rocket-propelled grenades also were
    launched at the church.
    The church attacks did not appear to be suicide bombings, U.S.
    military and Iraqi officials said.
    Up to 1 million Christians are thought to be living in Iraq, most
    of them in or around Baghdad.
    Under Saddam Hussein, they were allowed to worship freely, and
    there were no overt acts of hostility or aggression.
    But Christians have been complaining of harassment for months.
    Many have left for Lebanon, Syria and Jordan.
    There have been a series of attacks this summer on Baghdad's
    liquor stores and music shops, most of them owned by Christians.
    Fundamentalist Muslim groups have warned owners of these
    businesses to close operations.
    "This [attack] isn't against Muslims or Christians, this is
    against Iraq," Deputy Foreign Minister Labid Abawi told the
    Associated Press.
    The Vatican called the attacks "terrible and worrisome," said the
    Rev. Ciro Benedettini, its spokesman.
    Muslim clerics condemned the violence and offered condolences to
    the Christian community.
    "This is a cowardly act and targets all Iraqis," Abdul Hadi
    al-Daraji, spokesman for radical Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, told
    Al Jazeera television.
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