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| Iraqi Chaldean archbishop seized | Iraqi Chaldean archbishop seized |
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| 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 three Chaldean and Assyrian churches in Mosul. Several Christian priests have also been kidnapped or killed during the past five years. | 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. |
| Demands | Demands |
| 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. | 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 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 his two companions and driver, before kidnapping the archbishop, he added. |
| It's a terrible time for our church - pray for us Bishop Rabban al-Qas Iraq's human mosaic crushedIraqi Christians' long history | It's a terrible time for our church - pray for us Bishop Rabban al-Qas Iraq's human mosaic crushedIraqi Christians' long history |
| 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". | 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. | "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. | "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 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. | 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. |
| The Syrian Catholic 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 | 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 | 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. |
| 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. | 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. | "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. | 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. |