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Keyword: merrychristmasiraq

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  • Christmas made an official holiday in Iraq

    12/25/2008 6:48:52 AM PST · by Wavrnr10 · 40 replies · 1,906+ views
    Yahoo / AP ^ | 12/25/2008 | JIM HEINTZ
    partial...BAGHDAD – Iraq's Christians, a scant minority in this overwhelmingly Muslim country, quietly celebrated Christmas on Thursday with a present from the government, which declared it an official holiday for the first time. A senior Shiite cleric, Ammar al-Hakim, attended the Mass flanked by bodyguards in a gesture of cooperation with Christians. "I thank the visitors here and ask them to share happiness and love with their brothers on Christmas; by this they will build a glorious Iraq," the cardinal said.