U.S., U.N. condemn attacks on Iraqi Christians

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The United States, the U.N. Security Council and an American Catholic archbishop expressed concern about continuing attacks on Christian and other religious groups in Iraq, CNN reported Thursday. At least three people were killed and 25 wounded Wednesday morning, an Iraqi interior ministry official said. The roadside bombs and mortar fire targeted Christian homes in several Baghdad neighborhoods, the official said. On Tuesday evening, three people were wounded in western Baghdad when bombs exploded outside Christian homes there, the ministry said. It was not clear if the injured were Christian residents or others on the street. “The United States strongly condemns the recent terrorist attacks in Iraq, which were perpetrated by al Qaeda in Iraq against Christians in Baghdad in their homes and in their churches,” said Mike Hammer, spokesman for the White House’s National Security Council. “We also strongly condemn additional attacks against innocent civilians throughout Iraq, to include pilgrims in the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala.” The U.N. Security Council also decried attacks on places of worship in Iraq. The archbishop of Chicago, Illinois, urged U.S. President Barack Obama to take steps to protect Christians in Iraq. “Having invaded Iraq, our nation has a moral obligation not to abandon those Iraqis who cannot defend themselves,” wrote Cardinal Francis George of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. A group called the Islamic State of Iraq claimed responsibility for the gruesome October 31 siege of the Sayidat al-Nejat cathedral that left 70 people dead and 75 wounded. The umbrella group includes a number of Sunni extremist organizations and has ties to al Qaeda in Iraq. 1