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Archbishop attacks Iraq strategy Archbishop attacks Iraq strategy
(about 1 hour later)
The Archbishop of Canterbury has accused the UK government of placing Christians in the Middle East at risk through its actions in Iraq.The Archbishop of Canterbury has accused the UK government of placing Christians in the Middle East at risk through its actions in Iraq.
Dr Rowan Williams, head of the Anglican church, said there had been a growing number of attacks on Christians.Dr Rowan Williams, head of the Anglican church, said there had been a growing number of attacks on Christians.
He is on a pilgrimage to the region with the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor.He is on a pilgrimage to the region with the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor.
Both men have expressed concern about the Israeli-built West Bank barrier.Both men have expressed concern about the Israeli-built West Bank barrier.
The situation has got worse since Saddam fell Dr Rowan Williams,Archbishop of CanterburyThe situation has got worse since Saddam fell Dr Rowan Williams,Archbishop of Canterbury
Dr Williams told BBC Radio 4's Today programme there was "no doubt" that life for Christians in Iraq had become more difficult since the invasion.Dr Williams told BBC Radio 4's Today programme there was "no doubt" that life for Christians in Iraq had become more difficult since the invasion.
"What we have seen in the last year or so in Iraq has been attacks on Christian priests, the murder of some Christian priests, and the massive departure of large numbers of Christians from Iraq," he said."What we have seen in the last year or so in Iraq has been attacks on Christian priests, the murder of some Christian priests, and the massive departure of large numbers of Christians from Iraq," he said.
"The situation has got worse since Saddam fell.""The situation has got worse since Saddam fell."
His comments come after he told the Times newspaper ministers had ignored warnings Christians in the region "would be seen as supporters of the crusading West".His comments come after he told the Times newspaper ministers had ignored warnings Christians in the region "would be seen as supporters of the crusading West".
Among the results was the shrinking Christian population in Iraq, he said.Among the results was the shrinking Christian population in Iraq, he said.
He wrote from Bethlehem that despite frequent warnings before the Iraq war, the government had adopted no strategy to protect Christian minorities in the region.He wrote from Bethlehem that despite frequent warnings before the Iraq war, the government had adopted no strategy to protect Christian minorities in the region.
Now, he said, "Iraq's Christian population is dropping by thousands every couple of months and some of their most effective leaders have been forced to emigrate."
'Pray for town''Pray for town'
He called for readers of his article to "pray for the little town of Bethlehem". Dr Williams called for readers of his article to "pray for the little town of Bethlehem".
"Spare a thought for those who have been put at risk by our short-sightedness and ignorance; and ask what you might do locally to raise the profile of these brave and ancient Churches," he said. He told the Today programme that despite a "traditional co-existence" in Bethlehem there were now "signs there of anti-Christian feeling by local Muslims".
He also said the migration of Christian populations from countries where they had formerly existed amicably with the Muslim majority "fuels the myth in East and West - that Islam can't live with other faiths". His comments echoed similar remarks in the Times where he said the migration of Christian populations from countries where they had formerly existed amicably with the Muslim majority "fuels the myth in East and West - that Islam can't live with other faiths".
Dr Williams wrote that the Christians were not being persecuted by Muslim governments.Dr Williams wrote that the Christians were not being persecuted by Muslim governments.
"It's a matter of rising tides of extremism, which governments are as keen to check as anyone," he said. Meanwhile, Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor said they were both in Bethlehem as an "act of solidarity".
Dr Williams also wrote: "The first Christian believers were Middle Easterners. It's a sobering thought that we might live to see last native Christian believers in the region." "We are here to express our desire for peace in this land of conflict," he said.
The archbishop said earlier on his visit that the Israeli-built West Bank security barrier was a symbol of what is "deeply wrong in the human heart". "Our presence here is not just symbolic."
Both archbishops said they wanted to highlight how Israel's security measures were strangling the town.Both archbishops said they wanted to highlight how Israel's security measures were strangling the town.
They travelled with Bishop Nathan Hovhannisian, of the Armenian Church of Great Britain, and the Rev David Coffey, of the Free Churches on the four-day visit to the Holy Land.They travelled with Bishop Nathan Hovhannisian, of the Armenian Church of Great Britain, and the Rev David Coffey, of the Free Churches on the four-day visit to the Holy Land.