Church Bombed in Mosul;
Christian Leaders Protest Gov't Unconcern;
Sadrists Show Support for Christians

A church in the northern metropolis of was bombed in Mosul on Tuesday, as Christian leaders accused the government of PM Nuri al-Maliki of minimizing the seriousness of the crisis facing their community. Meanwhile, members of the hard line Shiite Sadr Movement reached out to the Christians. The Sadrists are Iraqi nationalists and enemies of the same Sunni fundamentalist vigilante groups that have repeatedly attacked the Christians.

More Christians left the city on Sunday, heading for nearby Christian villages that they feel are safer. The pace of the exodus has slowed from last weekend.

Father Philip Najim of the Patriarchate of Babylonia of the Chaldeans in part blamed the American military forces , who, he said, "contribute to destabilizing the country, because they are not able to guarantee peace. No one cares about us or about Iraq."

I don't think Father Najim thinks that the "surge" "worked."

Aljazeera International reports on the exodus of Iraqi Christians from Mosul, in the wake of a wave of assassinations and attacks on them.



The Chaldean Patriarch recently spoke of the massive bloodshed that has befallen Iraq as that country's "Calvary."

About half of Iraqi Christians have been forced abroad by the violence.

McClatchy reports other violence in Iraq on Tuesday:

' Baghdad

Three civilians were injured by a roadside bomb in Talbiyah neighborhood in east Baghdad around 7:00 a.m.

Around 8:00 p.m. an adhesive bomb stuck to a sedan detonated in Karrada neighborhood in downtown Baghdad. When the police patrols came to the area of the explosion, a roadside bomb detonated injuring three policemen.

Police found one unidentified body in Jamiaa neighborhood in west Baghdad.

Salahuddin

Five civilians were injured by a bomb in Tuz Khurmatu market place in downtown the city on Monday evening.'

Labels: Iraq

posted by Juan Cole @ 10/15/2008 12:30:00 AM