(BBC News) At least 52 people were killed as security forces stormed a Catholic church in Baghdad to free dozens of hostages. The gunmen had demanded the release of jailed al-Qaeda militants. The Islamic State of Iraq, a Sunni militant umbrella group to which al-Qaeda in Iraq belongs, claimed responsibility for the attack. The group said Iraqi Christians would be "exterminated" if Muslim women in Egypt were not freed, specifically mentioning two Coptic women in Egypt who radicals believe are being held by the Coptic Church against their will after converting to Islam.
2010-11-02 11:10:24Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive