Posted on 10/31/2010 12:59:38 PM PDT by NYer
| The church targeted by armed men on Sunday was one of five hit in co-ordinated attacks in August 2004 [AFP] |
Iraqi security forces with help from US forces have ended a siege by armed men who took scores of worshippers hostage in a Baghdad church after shooting dead two guards at the nearby stock exchange building.
The release of the Christian hostages came just minutes after church and government officials said earlier that security forces were about to launch a rescue operation.
The Vatican earlier called for a swift resolution to Sunday's hostage crisis through a spokesman.
"Helicopters are on the scene and our forces are getting ready to try to raid the church," an interior ministry official told the AFP news agency.
A police captain on the scene told AFP that "nine gunmen stormed the church, but one detonated his suicide belt and died when security forces tried to enter the church".
The interior ministry official, citing witnesses, said about 40 hostages were being held inside the Sayidat al-Nejat church in the Karrada neighbourhood.
Earlier, two guards at the stock exchange were killed in clashes with four armed fighters who were trying to break into the building.
"It is an armed attack on the Our Lady of Salvation Church. Three explosions occurred and our forces are surrounding the area," Major-General Qassim al-Moussawi, a spokesman for the Baghdad operations command, said.
Deadly attack
Al Jazeera's Rawya Rageh reporting from Baghdad said that in the early evening, the four attackers threw grenades at a checkpoint outside the stock exchange building, which was closed at the time.
"At least two policemen were killed and four civilians reportedly injured in the ensuing gunfight with security forces. The assailants managed to flee the scene and take refuge in a nearby church," she said.
"They then detonated their car by remote and are said to be holding an unknown number of hostages inside the church including a priest."
The Chaldean bishop of Baghdad earlier said the attackers were demanding the release of detainees held in Iraq and Egypt and that two priests were among the hostages.
"What we know is that a number of worshippers and two priests are being held hostage at the church by terrorists," Bishop Shlimoune Wardouni said.
"They are demanding the release of terrorists held in Iraq and Egypt."
Al-Baghdadiya television station said it had received a phone call from someone claiming to be one of the attackers, who demanded the release of all al-Qaeda prisoners in Iraq and Egypt.
The caller said the attackers belonged to the Islamic State of Iraq, an al-Qaeda umbrella group in Iraq.
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These Christians were at least released which is a lot better than the millions who have been butchered by this cult.
A happy outcome. Wise to act quickly, before the hostage takers have more time to prepare their defense or to kill hostages.
I am humbled by the courage and the faith of Christians in the middle east. These people have grit. They are regularly killed for their faith and still there they are.
Lord, have Mercy.
At least 37 people have been killed after Iraqi security forces stormed a Catholic church in central Baghdad to free dozens of hostages being held by gunmen there, security sources say.
Twenty-five hostages were among the dead, along with seven members of the Iraqi security forces and at least five of the attackers, they told the BBC.
Ugly.
UK Telegraph (was it?) said they immediately murdered the priest, during Mass, and that 37 were killed in all. Five Iraqi soldiers, 25 parishioners, 5 terrorists. Must have been more parishioners than that, to add up. It was a real blood bath.
UK Telegraph (was it?) said they immediately murdered the priest, during Mass, and that 37 were killed in all. Five Iraqi soldiers, 25 parishioners, 5 terrorists. Must have been more parishioners than that, to add up. It was a real blood bath.
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