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| Catholic priest beheaded in Syria monastery attack | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A Syrian Catholic priest has been beheaded by rebels at a monastery in the northern Syria, the Vatican says. | |
| Father Francois Murad, 49, was beheaded on 23 June when militants attacked the convent where he was staying. | Father Francois Murad, 49, was beheaded on 23 June when militants attacked the convent where he was staying. |
| The Vatican news agency said the circumstances of the killing were not fully clear. | The Vatican news agency said the circumstances of the killing were not fully clear. |
| But local sources said the attackers were linked to the jihadist group known as al-Nusra Front. | But local sources said the attackers were linked to the jihadist group known as al-Nusra Front. |
| Unconfirmed video footage claiming to show the priest's death, together with that of two other unidentified people, has been posted on Catholic websites. | Unconfirmed video footage claiming to show the priest's death, together with that of two other unidentified people, has been posted on Catholic websites. |
| Father Murad had moved to the convent in the area of Gassanieh for safety reasons, the Vatican said. | Father Murad had moved to the convent in the area of Gassanieh for safety reasons, the Vatican said. |
| He was a member of the Franciscan order, the official custodian of Christian sites in the Middle East. | He was a member of the Franciscan order, the official custodian of Christian sites in the Middle East. |
| Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the head of Franciscans in the region, said Syria had now become a battleground not only between Syrian forces but also between Arab countries and the international community. | Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the head of Franciscans in the region, said Syria had now become a battleground not only between Syrian forces but also between Arab countries and the international community. |
| "Let us pray so that this absurd and shameful war ends soon and that the people of Syria can go back to living a normal life," he said. | "Let us pray so that this absurd and shameful war ends soon and that the people of Syria can go back to living a normal life," he said. |
| Correspondents say many of Syria's ethnic and religious minorities are being drawn into the conflict as the fighting intensifies and becomes more sectarian in nature. | Correspondents say many of Syria's ethnic and religious minorities are being drawn into the conflict as the fighting intensifies and becomes more sectarian in nature. |
| Gunmen in northern Syria abducted two Orthodox Christian bishops in April as they travelled from the Turkish border back to the city of Aleppo. | Gunmen in northern Syria abducted two Orthodox Christian bishops in April as they travelled from the Turkish border back to the city of Aleppo. |