Seven wounded in Easter blast near Baghdad churchApril 24, 2011 - 22:43 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - At least seven people were injured when a bomb outside the entrance of a Baghdad church exploded on Easter Sunday, an Iraqi police official said. The blast took place just yards from the Sacred Heart Church in Baghdad's Karradah neighborhood. Shrapnel from the bomb struck the outside of the building, and at least four of the church's windows were shattered. Shards of broken glass lay on the street in front of the building. Like many Baghdad houses of worship, the church is surrounded by blast walls to protect it from such attacks. The officer said no parishioners were inside and services had not been held in the building. Four policemen and three civilian bystanders were wounded, said the official, who declined to be identified because he was not authorized to brief the media. Iraqi Christians have faced a recent wave of violence, including an attack last year against a Baghdad church that killed 68 people. Before Christmas services, al-Qaida-linked militants threatened a wave of violence against Christians, forcing many to tone down their ceremonies. There was no such threat ahead of this Easter Sunday but authorities nonetheless stepped up security in the capital and two main northern provinces where Christians live, tightening hundreds of checkpoints that already dot the streets and snarling traffic for hours. About 700 Christians attended Easter services at Baghdad's St. Joseph's Chaldean church where security forces closed off the roads leading to it, laid razor wires and searched all worshippers before entering the church. "Our life in Iraq is fill of fear," Father Hanna Saad Sirop told worshippers. "But we have to live in faith and trust ... we have to trust almighty God," Hanna added. Christians also marked Easter peacefully in the northern cities of Kirkuk and Mosul. Since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, Iraqi Christians have suffered repeated violence and harassment from Sunni Muslim extremists who view them as infidels and agents of the West, forcing many of them to flee the country either to the safer northern Kurdish self-ruled region or abroad, AP reported. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. |