20 killed in bombings around Iraq

[ECH1969]

Car bombs exploded in quick succession yesterday near four Christian churches and the office of the Vatican envoy. The attacks on Christian sites came at a time of rising sectarian tensions that threaten to complicate efforts to form a broad-based government following the Dec. 15 parliamentary elections.

"This was a reaction from the al-Zarqawi people against Christians who they believe support the U.S. military in Iraq," senior Shiite lawmaker Ali al-Adeeb said. "Such acts are rejected by Shiites and Sunnis alike who have been living together with our Christian brothers in Iraq throughout history."

A prominent Sunni Arab politician, Naseer al-Ani, called the bombings "terrorist acts."

http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060130/REPOSITORY/601300336/1013/NEWS03

[stop the bleeding]

1. interesting

[ECH1969]

2. There are 800,000 Christians in Iraq