The exodus of Christians from the area began in earnest on Aug. 1, 2004, when a car bomb exploded outside the Chaldean church of Sts. Peter and Paul, near the major seminary. The blast killed 15 and wounded hundreds.

The rector and vice rector of the seminary, Father Sami Al-Rais and Father Salem Basel, were briefly kidnapped in recent months.

Code: ZE07010703

Date: 2007-01-07