NewsMine — war-on-terror — iraq — insurgency — 2006 — 06-jan-apr — Viewing Item

Iraqis 700k christians celebrate easter Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060416/wl_mideast_afp/iraqreligioneaster_060416124056 http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060416/wl_mideast_afp/iraqreligioneaster_060416124056 Iraqi Christians brave violence to celebrate Easter Sun Apr 16, 8:40 AM ET BAGHDAD (AFP) - Iraqi Christians braved violence and walked to churches across Baghdad to celebrate Easter amid a power vacuum and raging sectarian violence that continues to keep peace away from the country. Dressed in their Sunday best, men, women and children were seen attending prayers for peace and special Easter mass services in various churches. In central Baghdad's Saint George's Church, dozens of devout Christians were led by father Raad Saleem, 55, for a special Easter prayer appealing for "peace and normalcy in Iraq." "I pray that life returns to normal in Iraq and the country gains stability," said Saleem as worshippers kneeled and bowed their heads. Calling for an end to the sectarian violence that has killed hundreds, Saleem said, "We want a national unity government soon and not a government that encourages selfish interests." "We want ministries serving Iraqis, providing employment, law and order and not ministries that are based on sectarianism." Four months after elections for the first post Saddam Hussein parliament, Iraq has failed to put together a cabinet due to bickering over ministerial berths and the candidacy of incumbent premier Ibrahim Jaafari. In a corner of the church, musicians played pianos as a group of children sung carols in Arabic while their teacher Nada Izzat, 30, watched. Remembering the days of the former regime, Izzat spoke ruefully about both past and present. "Iraq is free now but far away from peace," the teacher said. "At that time (under Saddam), we used to face restrictions on our freedom of expression. Today we are free, but unfortunately there is no security." Gesturing to the sky, she said, "We pray for the sake of Iraqis and to bring peace to this country. Today was the day when Jesus came back for the sake of humanity and I hope that this day brings peace for everyone." Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which according to the Bible occurred three days after he was crucified. Abu Marian, 40, prayed for peace. "In Iraq, the Christians have been attacked many times, but terrorists have failed to arouse hatred among them." Since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003, violence has wracked Iraq and many churches have been bombed. Iraq's estimated 700,000 Christians have kept a low profile amid fears of attack from Islamic extremists, who view the community as pro-American. "My wish is to leave Iraq because of this violence which does not differentiate among people," said 19-year-old Nubras Fadhal. "I feel scared and insecure as I go about in Baghdad and my movements are restricted." The community, which stood at more than one million people before the 1990 Gulf War, has shrunken over the years, with more and more people fleeing Iraq's insecurity for safer shores. But Father Saleem, mindful of his community's exodus, rallied the faithful Sunday to fight for the rebuilding of their country. "This country has been destroyed and now needs people who will reconstruct it," Saleem told AFP. "We have to work together ... to rebuild and bring prosperity to this land. On this occasion we must forget hatred as it will only lead to failure of Iraq." Offering his wishes for Easter, President Jalal Talabani said, "My Christian brothers and sisters are working jointly with their other brothers of Iraq in building a secured and democratic Iraq." At Vatican City, Pope Benedict XVI in his first Easter message expressed hope that peace would "finally prevail" in Iraq, where violence "continues mercilessly to claim victims." However, as prayers meetings went on in churches, eight people were killed Sunday across Iraq, including four in a bomb blast in Baghdad.

130 dead in series of iraq attacks { December 2006 } 36 dead after blast in baghdad vegetable market 3800 executed in iraq first three months of 2006 65 thousand refugees flee sectarian violence 70 iraqis killed in spasm of violence { March 13 2006 } Air strikes target civilians { January 3 2006 } Apparent iraqi death squad discovered { February 17 2006 } Big assault has no contract with insurgents { March 17 2006 } Blast destroys golden dome of shiite shrine Blast hits sunni mosque in iraq Blast kills 16 near shiite mosque in baghdad Bomb explodes in crowded market Bomb kills 80 sunnis turns city against alqaeda Bombed sunni shrine is mistaken as shiite { February 24 2006 } Brits deny iran bombing allegations Cheney says iraq is not in civil war { February 2006 } Cost of war to pass 1 trillion { March 17 2006 } Fears of civil war after reprisals { February 23 2006 } Foreigners not civil war says US military Government bans traffic in baghdad Gunmen kill woman after car bomb hits sunni mosque { February 10 2006 } Gunmen posing as police kill sunnis in retaliation Insurgents posing as police attach shiite shrine { February 22 2006 } Iran says US and israel destroyed iraqi shrine Iraq abductors threaten to kill peace activists { January 29 2006 } Iraq blast kills 10 shiite leader delay parliament Iraq civil war to spread across middle east { March 19 2006 } Iraq politican blames foreign intelligence for shrine attack { February 24 2006 } Iraqis 700k christians celebrate easter Iraqis burn flag before prayer fri mar 10 2006 [jpg] Largest air assault since 2003 invasion 2006 mar Major january attacks kill 70 sunnis { January 6 2006 } Marines beat back sunni arab insurgents { March 2006 } Militants attack iraq fuel convoy Military asserts most iraq is peaceful { February 2006 } Over 100 iraqis killed in sectarian violence { February 24 2006 } Palestinians targeted in iraq Peace activist quaker slain in iraq { March 12 2006 } Police chief claims attack on alsadr to divide iraqis Political progress destabilized by another attack { March 13 2006 } Press says iraq near civil war after 68 killed Retaliation on sunnis after deliberate sectarian attempt Shiites pissed at US military raid on mosque Sister of iraqi vice president shot dead Suicide bomber kills 36 at funeral procession { January 4 2006 } Sunni chief seeks release of US reporter Sunni mosque bombed as iraqi tanks deploy in baghdad { February 27 2006 } Three explosions at shiite mosque in baghdad Troops cant find insurgents in major assault Unknown kidnapped briton freed by accident US commander says iraq crisis has passed { February 2006 } US military seizes iraqi reporter for guardian { January 9 2006 } US troops raid sunni clerical scholars group Young clerics call for american hatred { February 26 2006 } Files Listed: 54

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