Following US-Saudi raids, Moqtada al-Sadr called on the Revolutionary Guards to refrain from dragging the country into a new conflict. He also urged Iraq’s prime minister to reassert state control. According to government figures, the PMFs now number between 200,000 and 238,000 members.
Bipartisan group releases its long awaited report. A new US strategy in Iraq is suggested including greater training for Iraqi forces and greater involvement in regional peace process with Syria and Iran. Blair comes to the White House.
The man was a leader of the local Presbyterian Church. There is still no news about a Chaldean priest who was kidnapped on Monday. Patriarch Delly has issued an appeal for his release.
Chaldean Patriarchate confirms Father Samy’s abduction. The priest, who is rector of the Major Seminary, disappeared yesterday. He was supposed to open the new academic year yesterday.
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Notwithstanding prevalent insecurity, theology courses of lay people of the diocese resumed this year. Courses will also be held in a nearby Christian village.
This was confirmed by Mgr Warduni, Chaldean Auxiliary Bishop of Baghdad: "Fr Doglas is fine, but Iraq still needs prayers." He made an appeal for Christmas.
One of the Caritas workers explains what happened: they wanted money for the resistance to US occupation. The Church and Christians are the preferred target of those who want easy money. A theology course for lay people is holding out: it has transferred from Mosul to a safer area.
Agreement entails security cooperation. It comes after US suggests Syria be involved in stabilising Iraq and drawn away from Iran. Iraqi President Talabani flies to Tehran on Saturday.
There has been no news of Fr Doglas, Chaldean parish priest of St Elias Church, since yesterday morning. The Auxiliary Bishop of Baghdad says it is "very likely" he has been kidnapped. Fears are growing that these criminal moves are aimed at striking more active religious figures in a bid to discourage Christians from remaining in Iraq.
The blast took place on November 1 destroying the entrance to the friars' church. No one was hurt. The situation for Christians is getting worse. After a Syro-Orthodox priest was decapitated many clergymen are afraid of wearing clerical robes, but prayers are encouraging hope. "It's our duty not to despair".
The count supplied by the Health Ministry is triple the figures that so far have been endorsed by the Baghdad government, but only one-fourth of an estimate put forward by an English journal.
The bishop of Kirkuk made an appeal to religious and political Iraqi leaders: meet to draw up a common position on the situation in Iraq, to face the scourge of migration and to play a more pro-active role in national reconstruction. We publish the text of Mgr Sako's appeal.
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