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| Iraqi Christians flee killings | Iraqi Christians flee killings |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Hundreds of Iraqi Christians have reportedly fled the northern Iraqi city of Mosul over the past week, following a wave of killings aimed against them. | Hundreds of Iraqi Christians have reportedly fled the northern Iraqi city of Mosul over the past week, following a wave of killings aimed against them. |
| Local officials say a dozen Christians have been killed in the past two weeks, triggering hundreds of fearful families to take refuge in outlying villages. | Local officials say a dozen Christians have been killed in the past two weeks, triggering hundreds of fearful families to take refuge in outlying villages. |
| The provincial governor has accused extremist al-Qaeda elements of staging a campaign against Christians. | The provincial governor has accused extremist al-Qaeda elements of staging a campaign against Christians. |
| Pope Benedict XVI has condemned the violence. | |
| "I urge the perpetrators of violence to renounce these acts and join with their brothers and sisters to work together in building a civilization of love," the Pope said, referring to the violence against Christians in both Iraq and India. | |
| Mosul, like other major Iraqi cities, has witnessed big security operations aimed at displacing insurgents and imposing law and order. | Mosul, like other major Iraqi cities, has witnessed big security operations aimed at displacing insurgents and imposing law and order. |
| Our correspondent in Baghdad, Jim Muir, says the operations have improved security in cities like Baghdad and Basra, but the situation in Mosul - Iraq's third-largest city - seems to be worsening. | Our correspondent in Baghdad, Jim Muir, says the operations have improved security in cities like Baghdad and Basra, but the situation in Mosul - Iraq's third-largest city - seems to be worsening. |
| Killing campaign | Killing campaign |
| He says Mosul's Christians, whose ancestors have lived there for centuries, have never been spared from violence and extortion. Their archbishop was abducted and murdered in March. | He says Mosul's Christians, whose ancestors have lived there for centuries, have never been spared from violence and extortion. Their archbishop was abducted and murdered in March. |
| But now, they seem to be falling prey to a campaign of killings aimed specifically at them, our correspondent adds. | But now, they seem to be falling prey to a campaign of killings aimed specifically at them, our correspondent adds. |
| The provincial governor says about 1,000 families have fled the city to hide in villages to the north and east of the city. | The provincial governor says about 1,000 families have fled the city to hide in villages to the north and east of the city. |
| The governor and church leaders have called on the Iraqi government, and US forces, to do more to bolster security in Mosul, and to help protect Christians. | The governor and church leaders have called on the Iraqi government, and US forces, to do more to bolster security in Mosul, and to help protect Christians. |
| There were estimated to be around 800,000 Christians in Iraq in 2003, when coalition forces invaded. | There were estimated to be around 800,000 Christians in Iraq in 2003, when coalition forces invaded. |
| Over the years, there were waves of attacks on them, and many churches were bombed, both in Mosul and Baghdad. At least one-third of the community is believed to have fled abroad. | Over the years, there were waves of attacks on them, and many churches were bombed, both in Mosul and Baghdad. At least one-third of the community is believed to have fled abroad. |