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| Iraqi Chaldean archbishop seized | Iraqi Chaldean archbishop seized |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Gunmen have kidnapped the archbishop of the Chaldean Catholic Church in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul and killed three of his aides, his church says. | Gunmen have kidnapped the archbishop of the Chaldean Catholic Church in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul and killed three of his aides, his church says. |
| Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho was seized as he left a church in the eastern al-Nour district, it added. | Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho was seized as he left a church in the eastern al-Nour district, it added. |
| Most of Iraq's estimated 700,000 Christians are Chaldeans - Catholics who are autonomous from Rome but recognise the Pope's authority. | Most of Iraq's estimated 700,000 Christians are Chaldeans - Catholics who are autonomous from Rome but recognise the Pope's authority. |
| Many have been targeted since the 2004 invasion by Sunni extremists groups. | Many have been targeted since the 2004 invasion by Sunni extremists groups. |
| In January, bombs exploded outside two Chaldean churches, an Assyrian church and a monastery in Mosul, wounding four people. | In January, bombs exploded outside two Chaldean churches, an Assyrian church and a monastery in Mosul, wounding four people. |
| Ambush | |
| A spokesman for the Chaldean Church told the BBC that Archbishop Rahho was travelling in his car with his two aides and a driver shortly after he finished saying Mass at a church when they were ambushed by armed men. | |
| The gunmen opened fire on the car, killing the three aides, before kidnapping the archbishop, he added. | |
| The 65-year-old was ordained archbishop of Mosul in 2001. | |
| There are an estimated 50,000 Christians in the traditionally ethnically and religiously mixed city of Mosul, Iraq's third-largest and a centre of the oil industry. | |
| A rise in attacks on Christians since the US-led invasion in 2003 has prompted many to leave, although estimates that some 40,000-60,000 have left cannot be confirmed. |