PM al-Maliki orders broader Christian participation in Security forces-statement

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraq’s Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Wednesday ordered a broader participation of Christians in security forces to secure their regions. “The government will punish all those who displaced Christians from their regions and also the factions that were behind the armed group that carried out the displacement,” a government statement received by IraqiNews.com cited PM al-Maliki as saying during a reception with representatives of the Christian communities in Iraq. “What Christians faced in Mosul is a part of a political scheme of which the Christians must be aware,” al-Maliki noted, “all Iraqi denominations must foil this dubious plan.” Nearly 10,000 Christians — roughly half the city’s Christian population — have fled this month because of threats and attacks, according to Iraqi officials. Al-Maliki said he “ordered a broader participation for Christians in security forces to provide stability in their region,” stressing “the government would supply all sorts of support to encourage Christians to stay in the country.” Political and religious leaders throughout Iraq have spoken out against the persecution of Christians in Mosul, the country’s third-largest city, located 405 km north of Baghdad. A Christian community has lived there since the early days of Christianity. The recent series of killings has occurred as the religious minority stepped up lobbying efforts to ensure its representation in upcoming provincial elections in the predominantly Muslim country. AM (S)SR 1