Iraq pours in police to protect Christians
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Iraq deployed around 1,000 police in Christian areas of Mosul, an official said, as thousands of members of the minority group fled the worst violence against them in five years.
"Two (national police) brigades were sent to Christian areas in Mosul and churches were surrounded and put under tight security," interior ministry spokesman Abdul-Karim Khalaf said.
He said the reinforcements had been deployed from midnight in the restive northern city, considered by US and Iraqi commanders as the last urban stronghold of al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Mr Khalaf added that two investigation teams, one security and the other criminal, had also been deployed to probe a spate of attacks on Christians in Mosul since September 28, in which at least 11 people have been killed.
An AFP correspondent said police had set up checkpoints at churches in the city's four heavily Christian areas and were patrolling the streets on foot.
Nearly 1,000 Christian families have fled their homes in the city since Friday, taking shelter on the northern and eastern fringes of Nineveh province, according to provincial governor Duraid Kashmula.
He said the violence was the worst against Christians in five years.
"(It) is the fiercest campaign against Christians since 2003," Mr Kashmula said. "Among those killed over the past 11 days were a doctor, an engineer and a handicapped person."
At least three homes of Christians were blown up by unidentified attackers on Saturday, security officials said.
Mosul military command spokesman Khalid Abdul-Satar said he did not know who was behind the violence but pledged to protect the Christian community.
"We told the Christians through their churches and priests that we are ready to provide security to any house or individual that needs our protection. We have enough forces to do that," Mr Satar said.
- AFP
