Iraq authorities boost security after church bombs
By Tim Cocks and Saif Tawfeeq
BAGHDAD, July 13 (Reuters) - Iraq's ethnically and religiously mixed city of Mosul imposed a curfew on vehicles in Christian neighbourhoods on Monday in response to a series of bomb attacks targeting churches in Baghdad, police said.
The curfew in the northern city, home to many of Iraq's estimated 750,000 Christians, a small minority in a mainly Muslim country of 28 million people, was later lifted and officials vowed to protect civilians from violence.
The bombs exploded in apparently coordinated attacks on Sunday, wounding more than 30 people. In the most serious attack, four people were killed and 21 wounded.
Baghdad security spokesman Major-General Qassim al-Moussawi said Iraqi forces had stepped up protection of religious sites, often targets for militants trying to cause sectarian tension.
"Today we took measures to redeploy the security forces to concentrate on the vital targets for us, like mosques and Hussainiyas (Shi'ite mosques)," Moussawi said.
"We expect the coming period is a decisive stage in Iraqi history so we expect some terrorist operations," he added.
The sectarian bloodshed that nearly tore Iraq apart in 2006 and 2007 has faded, but attacks continue. U.S. and Iraqi officials have been bracing for violence after the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from city centres on June 30.
Iraqis of all religions and ethnicities worry there may be worse to come and Christians fear their small community may be the target of further violence.
"We had warned the authorities that we would be targeted, that our churches would be struck again, but we got no response," said Chaldean Bishop Shleimon Warduni, standing in front of a life-size statue of the Virgin Mary in Baghdad.
"They left our churches without protection."
William Warida, a Christian and chairman of a Baghdad human rights organisation, said militants were attacking Christians to make international headlines.
"The Christians are the weakest link in the chain of Iraqi society," he said.
Christian parliamentarian Yunadim Kanna told Reuters militants were seeking new targets after the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops.
"Christians don't want special protection. If there is rule of law, everyone will be protected," he said.
About 2,000 families, an estimated 12,000 people, fled Mosul after a campaign of threats and attacks on Christians there in October last year, but many have since returned. (Additional reporting by Aseel Kami and Muhanad Mohammed; Writing by Tim Cocks; editing by Andrew Dobbie)
BAGHDAD, July 13 (Reuters) - Iraq's ethnically and religiously mixed city of Mosul imposed a curfew on vehicles in Christian neighbourhoods on Monday in response to a series of bomb attacks targeting churches in Baghdad, police said.
The curfew in the northern city, home to many of Iraq's estimated 750,000 Christians, a small minority in a mainly Muslim country of 28 million people, was later lifted and officials vowed to protect civilians from violence.
The bombs exploded in apparently coordinated attacks on Sunday, wounding more than 30 people. In the most serious attack, four people were killed and 21 wounded.
Baghdad security spokesman Major-General Qassim al-Moussawi said Iraqi forces had stepped up protection of religious sites, often targets for militants trying to cause sectarian tension.
"Today we took measures to redeploy the security forces to concentrate on the vital targets for us, like mosques and Hussainiyas (Shi'ite mosques)," Moussawi said.
"We expect the coming period is a decisive stage in Iraqi history so we expect some terrorist operations," he added.
The sectarian bloodshed that nearly tore Iraq apart in 2006 and 2007 has faded, but attacks continue. U.S. and Iraqi officials have been bracing for violence after the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from city centres on June 30.
Iraqis of all religions and ethnicities worry there may be worse to come and Christians fear their small community may be the target of further violence.
"We had warned the authorities that we would be targeted, that our churches would be struck again, but we got no response," said Chaldean Bishop Shleimon Warduni, standing in front of a life-size statue of the Virgin Mary in Baghdad.
"They left our churches without protection."
William Warida, a Christian and chairman of a Baghdad human rights organisation, said militants were attacking Christians to make international headlines.
"The Christians are the weakest link in the chain of Iraqi society," he said.
Christian parliamentarian Yunadim Kanna told Reuters militants were seeking new targets after the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops.
"Christians don't want special protection. If there is rule of law, everyone will be protected," he said.
About 2,000 families, an estimated 12,000 people, fled Mosul after a campaign of threats and attacks on Christians there in October last year, but many have since returned. (Additional reporting by Aseel Kami and Muhanad Mohammed; Writing by Tim Cocks; editing by Andrew Dobbie)
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