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Thursday, 23 december 2004 By Golnaz Esfandiari Christian Armenians and Assyrians have lived for centuries on the territory of what is today Iran. Vigen, one of Iran’s most famous singers, came from the country’s Armenian community. He was loved by all Iranians in spite of the fact his faith was …

Furthermore, according to www.ankawa.com, on December 20, 2004, an unidentified group in Mosul kidnapped Michael Daddeza, a teacher (50 years old, married with children), from the Assyrian town of Baghdeda, as he was returning from the elementary school of Hawsalan village where he taught. Michael was with his friend who …

DAMASCUS – AFP Former foes Turkey and Syria signed a free-trade accord and said they had agreed to put their differences behind them during a visit by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan, at the start of a two-day mission, and his Syrian counterpart Mohammed Naji Otri signed the …

Damascus -Fides Service On the occasion of Christmas 2004, Fides asked for a contribution with regard to celebrations in Syria from His Beatitude Gregorios III Laham, Greek Melchite Patriarch of Antioch and the East from Alexandria to Jerusalem. ?The solemn celebration of the Nativity of Jesus Christ is carefully prepared …

Monday, December 20, 2004. In a statement by Bishop Mar Polous Faraj Rahho, the Chaldean Catholic Bishop in Mosul, to www.ankawa.com, three churches were attacked in Mosul today. At 2:30 p.m. local time, the bishopcrate of Mar (St.) Afram of the Syriac Orthodox in Hay al-Shurta (Police quarters) was attacked …

BAGHDAD – AFP British Prime Minister Tony Blair, on a surprise visit here, said he hoped all Iraqis would take part in next month’s elections, describing the situation in the country as a “battle between democracy and terror.”“I hope it goes ahead on an inclusive basis,” he said Tuesday at …

Iraq – Mosul Mortar?rounds hit a dining hall at a U.S. military base near Mosul on Tuesday, killing at least 22 people, including?America soldiers, members of the Iraqi national guard, and Iraqi civilians, Pentagon officials said. At least?51 people were injured in the incident — which occurred at noon, the …

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Leaders of Iraq’s dwindling Christian population say that bombings of their churches and attacks against their communities may force them to take up guns. Two more churches were bombed in Mosul last week, and some Christians say that extremist Muslims are terrorizing them with the intent of …

Baskets brim with glitter-dusted ornaments. A 4-foot Santa Claus doll towers over the cash register. Rows of decorated trees and red plastic poinsettias line the shop. The only thing missing? Customers. “All the Christians have left the country,” said store manager Saif Sadi, adding that sales this season were down …

WASHINGTON (AFP) President George W. Bush admitted that Iraqi forces were not ready to replace US-led troops and warned that Iraqi elections set for January 30 would not spell the end of deadly violence there.The president, who faced reporters in an hour-long press conference before the winter holidays, also stood …