2ND LD: 11 killed in attacks on churches in Iraq

0 Comments | Asian Political News, August 9, 2004

BAGHDAD, Aug. 2 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATES WITH LATEST INFO)

A series of explosions rocked at least four Christian churches in Baghdad and one church in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul on Sunday, killing 11 people and injuring about 50 others, the U.S. military said.

In Baghdad, 10 people were killed and more than 40 others injured in bomb explosions at four churches, said the U.S. forces stationed in the country. In Mosul, one person was killed and seven others wounded in a bomb attack on a church, it said.

Reuters quoted witnesses, an ambulance driver and officials as saying that at least 15 people were killed in bomb attacks on at least five churches in the two cities.

The news agency quoted a U.S. military spokesman as saying that three of the four attacks in Baghdad were known to be suicide bombings.

In the deadliest attack on a Chaldean church in southern Baghdad, at least 12 people were killed as worshippers left the building, Reuters quoted witnesses as saying.

About 800,000 Christians live in Iraq, making up about 3 percent of the population. Most of them live in Baghdad.