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Iraqi Chaldean archbishop seized Iraqi Chaldean archbishop seized
(about 1 hour 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 three Chaldean and Assyrian churches in Mosul. Several Christian priests have also been kidnapped or killed during the past five years.
Ambush Demands
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 leading prayers at a church when they were ambushed by armed men. Archbishop Rahho had just left the Church of the Holy Spirit in Mosul, where he had been leading afternoon prayers, when his car was ambushed by armed men, a church spokesman said.
The traditional liturgical language of the Chaldean church is Syriac class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6293230.stm">Crushing Iraq's ethnic mosaic class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/3526386.stm">Iraqi Christians' long history The gunmen opened fire on the car, killing his two companions and driver, before kidnapping the archbishop, he added.
The gunmen opened fire on the car, killing the three aides, before kidnapping the archbishop, he added. It's a terrible time for our church - pray for us Bishop Rabban al-Qas class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6293230.stm">Iraq's human mosaic crushed class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/3526386.stm">Iraqi Christians' long history
The 65-year-old was ordained archbishop of Mosul in 2001. Bishop Rabban al-Qas of the nearby city of Irbil said his 65-year-old colleague, who was ordained archbishop of Mosul in 2001, was "in the hands of terrorists".
"But we don't know what physical condition [he is in]," he told the Rome-based Catholic news service, AsiaNews.
"It's a terrible time for our church - pray for us," he added.
The kidnappers have reportedly communicated their demands, but these have not been made public.
The incident comes less than year after a Chaldean priest and three sub-deacons were gunned down the same church in Mosul after celebrating Sunday Mass.
A former archbishop of Mosul, Basile Georges Casmoussa, was kidnapped at gunpoint in 2005, but was released after one day reportedly without a ransom having been paid.
Christians targeted
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.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.
The traditional liturgical language of the Chaldean church is Syriac
But a rise in attacks on Christians by Sunni extremist groups such as al-Qaeda in Iraq since the US-led invasion in 2003 has prompted many to leave.But a rise in attacks on Christians by Sunni extremist groups such as al-Qaeda in Iraq since the US-led invasion in 2003 has prompted many to leave.
Originally made up of members of the Nestorian Church, the traditional liturgical language of the Chaldean church is Syriac - a descendent of Aramaic, the language thought to have been spoken by Jesus and his disciples. Last June, Pope Benedict XVI told US President George W Bush he was deeply concerned about the plight of Iraq's Christians as a result of the ongoing insurgency.
"Particularly in Iraq, Christian families and communities are feeling increasing pressure from insecurity, aggression and a sense of abandonment," the Pope said.
Originally made up of members of the Nestorian Church, the traditional liturgical language of the Chaldean church is Syriac - a descendent of Aramaic, which is thought to have been spoken by Jesus and his disciples.
The church's community in Iraq is said to be 550,000-strong and its best-known member is Saddam Hussein's former deputy prime minister, Tariq Aziz.The church's community in Iraq is said to be 550,000-strong and its best-known member is Saddam Hussein's former deputy prime minister, Tariq Aziz.
The Chaldean Patriarch, Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly, is based in Baghdad.The Chaldean Patriarch, Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly, is based in Baghdad.