Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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October 12, 2008

Baghdad Attacks Kill 11
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1EADFCE:A6F02AD83191E160BE3942F269C2A3F05C6F54A6CF9DC2CA&
 
Security officials say the attack occurred Sunday on a commercial street
in Bayaa, a predominantly Shi'ite area in the southwest of the capital
city 
Iraqi police say a car bomb attack has killed at least nine people and
wounded 13 at a busy market in Baghdad. Security officials say the
attack occurred Sunday on a commercial street in Bayaa, a predominantly
Shi'ite area in the southwest of the city. In another attack, police say
sniper fire killed two Iraqi security officials in the western Baghdad
area of Mansour today. Separately, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki
ordered an immediate investigation into a recent series of attacks
against Christians in the northern city of Mosul. In a statement
following talks with Christian officials, Mr. Maliki condemned the
violence that has prompted hundreds of Christian families to flee the
city in recent weeks. He said security forces will take all steps
necessary to provide protection for Christians in the predominately
Muslim nation. Iraqi officials have deployed more than a thousand police
officers to guard Christian districts and churches in Mosul. It is
unclear who has been!
  carrying out the attacks. But Iraqi Christian leaders say the minority
community is facing a killing campaign. Saturday, police said
unidentified attackers blew up three empty homes belonging to Christians
in Mosul. In recent weeks, thousands of Iraqi Christians have taken to
the streets in Mosul to protest against a new election law that removes
a clause reserving some seats in parliament for minorities. Iraq's
government has asked lawmakers to restore the quota system.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.


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