Following coordinated attacks on churches and convents on ³Epiphany² Januar y 6th in Baghdad and Mosul, Iraqi Premier Nur-aldin al-Maliki reassured the Vatican that his government is committed to protect Iraq¹s Christians. In his meeting with Apostolic <http://www.asianews.it/files/img/IRAQ_CHIESE_ANKAWA.jpg> Nuncio, Msgr. Francis Assisi Chullikatt, Premier Maliki condemned the attacks and guaranteed protection and justice. A statement was released from Al-Maliki¹ s office underlining that the Iraqi government¹s desire to promote ³strong an d friendly links with the nation¹s Christian groups² and insisted ³peaceful coexistence is possible². On the other hand, Premier Maliki renewed his invitation to the Pope to visit Iraq. For further information contact: rsiriani@scs-net.org <mailto:rsiriani@scs-net.org> , or www.ankawa.com <http://www.ankawa.com/
Middle East Council of Churches Office of International Ecumenical Relations P.O. Box 5376, Beirut, Lebanon
Guirgis Ibrahim Saleh, General Secretary
mecc@cyberia.net.lb or guirgissaleh@cyberia.net.lb
+961-1-353-938 http://www.mec-churches.org/
