Two Christian churches in Mosul have been struck by bombers, continuing a campaign of intimidation that Archbishop Louis Sako of Kirkuk has characterized as the “ethnic and religious cleansing” of Iraq. Three people were killed and several others wounded in the December 23 attacks—adding to the casualty list that had included one child killed and 40 people injured in bombings at churches a week earlier.

In Basra, Chaldean Catholic Bishop Imad al Banna asked the faithful “not to display their joy, not to publicly celebrate the feast of the Nativity,” because of fears that they might provoke a hostile reaction from the Shi’ite majority in that city.

Source(s): these links will take you to other sites, in a new window.