http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1944046/posts
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http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Religion/?id=1.0.1704504671
“Turkey: Christians celebrate low-key Christmas after recent attack”
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Istanbul, 24 Dec. (AKI) - Turkey’s 100,000-strong Christian community was on Monday hoping that Christmas this year would pass uneventfully without further sectarian attacks such as that earlier this month against an Italian Catholic priest - the latest of several in little over a year. “
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “He described the government’s moves to remove the current ban on wearing the Muslim headscarf in state offices and universities as a positive step. “I believe a law of this kind, drafted by moderate Islamists, should on balance be seen in a positive light by Christians,” Padovese said.
“I would like these steps towards dialogue and tolerance to rapidly pick up speed, but I understand that Turkey is a country that does not have just one soul, but many,” he concluded.
Muslims form 99.08 percent (mostly Sunni), and Christians and Jews the remaining 0.2 percent. “
Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16028&Itemid=21
Press Release A071225a
December 25, 2007
Coalition forces target terrorist facilitators, suicide bombers; 13 killed, 27 detained
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed 13 terrorists and detained 27 suspects Monday and today during operations targeting al-Qaeda in central and northern Iraq.
During a series of operations south of Samarra Monday and today, Coalition forces targeted an alleged senior level foreign terrorist facilitator for al-Qaeda in Iraq. The targeted individual is also believed to be responsible for the facilitation of weapons and finances and involved in suicide-bombing operations, some of which include female operatives.
Acting on intelligence reports, Coalition forces targeted a location where the individual was believed to be operating and called supporting aircraft to engage. Four individuals emerged from the target area and attempted to evade capture. As Coalition forces approached one of the individuals, the suspect detonated a suicide vest, killing himself. The ground force then located two of the suspects hiding in a wooded area. Coalition forces engaged and killed the two men. Another individual, who was wounded in the initial engagement, was also found hiding in the wooded area and was subsequently detained. The suspect was treated on site and transported to a military medical facility for further care.
As the ground force secured the target area, they discovered several weapons, which were safely destroyed on site, along with a vehicle used for terrorist activity. During the series of operations in the area, Coalition forces also detained 15 other suspected terrorists.
Farther north in Mosul, Coalition forces targeted associates of an al-Qaeda in Iraq leader allegedly responsible for coordinating and directing numerous terrorist attacks in the region. Intelligence reports indicate the individuals had executed a man earlier in the day and were later observed in the target area.
During the operation this morning, Coalition forces were engaged on two separate occasions by armed men as they attempted to clear target buildings in the area. The men charged at the Coalition forces’ position, and the ground force engaged the enemy, killing four terrorists. As the ground force continued to clear the area, they were engaged by machine gun fire and grenades from underneath one of the structures. Responding in self-defense, Coalition forces returned fire and called for supporting aircraft to engage. Once enemy fire ceased, the ground force assessed that five terrorists were killed during the engagement. Coalition forces also detained one suspect during the operation.
In Baghdad Monday, Coalition forces targeted an alleged al-Qaeda member involved in bomb-making operations within the south Karkh car-bombing network. As the ground force arrived in the area, they observed six men maneuvering away from the target building. Coalition forces followed the men and detained four of the suspects. The two other individuals were subsequently engaged. One of them was killed, while the remaining suspect was wounded, detained and transported to a medical facility for treatment.
Five suspected terrorists were detained south of Hawija today, during operations targeting an al-Qaeda leader for the network operating in Kirkuk.
“We continue to disrupt al-Qaeda networks that are conducting attacks against the Iraqi people and the security forces that protect them,” said Maj. Winfield Danielson, MNF-I spokesman. “Operations like these show that, while al-Qaeda remains a threat, Iraqi and Coalition forces will take the fight to the terrorists, diminishing their ability to attack innocent civilians.”
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