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| Iraq Christians flee as Islamic State takes Qaraqosh | Iraq Christians flee as Islamic State takes Qaraqosh |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Up to a quarter of Iraq's Christians are reported to be fleeing after Islamic militants seized the minority group's biggest town. | Up to a quarter of Iraq's Christians are reported to be fleeing after Islamic militants seized the minority group's biggest town. |
| The Islamic State (IS) group captured Qaraqosh overnight after the withdrawal of Kurdish forces. | The Islamic State (IS) group captured Qaraqosh overnight after the withdrawal of Kurdish forces. |
| IS has been gaining ground in northern Iraq since June, and also controls some of Syria. | IS has been gaining ground in northern Iraq since June, and also controls some of Syria. |
| The US has warned that the situation for Iraq's minority groups threatens to become a "humanitarian catastrophe". | The US has warned that the situation for Iraq's minority groups threatens to become a "humanitarian catastrophe". |
| ``We are gravely concerned for their health and safety," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest. | ``We are gravely concerned for their health and safety," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest. |
| But he refused to confirm a New York Times report that the US is considering air strikes to help the Yazidi community, another minority group in northern Iraq that has been targeted by IS. | But he refused to confirm a New York Times report that the US is considering air strikes to help the Yazidi community, another minority group in northern Iraq that has been targeted by IS. |
| About 50,000 Yazidis are thought to have been trapped in the mountains after fleeing the town of Sinjar - although the UN says some of them have now been rescued. | About 50,000 Yazidis are thought to have been trapped in the mountains after fleeing the town of Sinjar - although the UN says some of them have now been rescued. |
| The United Nations Security Council is due to meet in emergency session later on Thursday to discuss the situation. | The United Nations Security Council is due to meet in emergency session later on Thursday to discuss the situation. |
| Tens of thousands of religious minorities have been forced to flee since IS, a Sunni Muslim group formerly known as Isis, launched its onslaught. | Tens of thousands of religious minorities have been forced to flee since IS, a Sunni Muslim group formerly known as Isis, launched its onslaught. |
| IS says it has created an Islamic state in the territory it controls. | IS says it has created an Islamic state in the territory it controls. |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
| Plea for help | Plea for help |
| A majority of Nineveh inhabitants left their homes overnight, according to Fraternite en Irak, an international Christian organisation based in Paris. | A majority of Nineveh inhabitants left their homes overnight, according to Fraternite en Irak, an international Christian organisation based in Paris. |
| As many as 100,000 people are believed to be fleeing toward the autonomous Kurdistan Region. | As many as 100,000 people are believed to be fleeing toward the autonomous Kurdistan Region. |
| Pope Francis has made an impassioned appeal to the international community to do much more to address the crisis. | Pope Francis has made an impassioned appeal to the international community to do much more to address the crisis. |
| A Vatican statement said the Pope had appealed for "all necessary help" to be given to those forced to flee their homes, "whose fate depends entirely on the solidarity of others". | A Vatican statement said the Pope had appealed for "all necessary help" to be given to those forced to flee their homes, "whose fate depends entirely on the solidarity of others". |
| And Minority Rights Group International has warned that Iraq's multi-ethnic future is now at grave risk. | And Minority Rights Group International has warned that Iraq's multi-ethnic future is now at grave risk. |
| Christian 'catastrophe' | Christian 'catastrophe' |
| Kurdish forces, known as the Peshmerga, have been fighting the IS militants' advance for weeks. | Kurdish forces, known as the Peshmerga, have been fighting the IS militants' advance for weeks. |
| The Peshmerga's commander in Qaraqosh reportedly told the town's archbishop late on Wednesday that the forces were abandoning their posts. | The Peshmerga's commander in Qaraqosh reportedly told the town's archbishop late on Wednesday that the forces were abandoning their posts. |
| Several senior clergymen in Nineveh confirmed the town had fallen. | Several senior clergymen in Nineveh confirmed the town had fallen. |
| "It's a catastrophe, a tragic situation: tens of thousands of terrified people are being displaced as we speak," said Joseph Thomas, the Chaldean archbishop of the northern city of Kirkuk. | "It's a catastrophe, a tragic situation: tens of thousands of terrified people are being displaced as we speak," said Joseph Thomas, the Chaldean archbishop of the northern city of Kirkuk. |
| Eyewitnesses in Qaraqosh said IS militants were taking down crosses in churches and burning religious manuscripts. | Eyewitnesses in Qaraqosh said IS militants were taking down crosses in churches and burning religious manuscripts. |
| The town - referred to as Iraq's Christian capital - is located 30km (19 miles) south-east of the city of Mosul, which was captured by IS in June. | The town - referred to as Iraq's Christian capital - is located 30km (19 miles) south-east of the city of Mosul, which was captured by IS in June. |
| Last month, hundreds of Christian families fled Mosul after the Islamist rebels gave them an ultimatum to convert to Islam, pay a special tax or be executed. | Last month, hundreds of Christian families fled Mosul after the Islamist rebels gave them an ultimatum to convert to Islam, pay a special tax or be executed. |
| Iraq is home to one of the world's most ancient Christian communities, but numbers have dwindled amid growing sectarian violence since the US-led invasion in 2003. | Iraq is home to one of the world's most ancient Christian communities, but numbers have dwindled amid growing sectarian violence since the US-led invasion in 2003. |
| Iraq's minorities | Iraq's minorities |
| Christians | Christians |
| Yazidis | Yazidis |
| Iraq: The minorities of Nineveh | Iraq: The minorities of Nineveh |
| Yazidi eyewitness: 'They want to slaughter us' | Yazidi eyewitness: 'They want to slaughter us' |
| Plight of the Yazidis | Plight of the Yazidis |
| Meanwhile, the UN said it was mobilising resources to assist Yazidis rescued from Mount Sinjar over the past 24 hours. | Meanwhile, the UN said it was mobilising resources to assist Yazidis rescued from Mount Sinjar over the past 24 hours. |
| Members of the ancient Kurdish ethno-religious community sought refuge there at the weekend. | Members of the ancient Kurdish ethno-religious community sought refuge there at the weekend. |
| Almost 200,000 civilians have been displaced from Sinjar town, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has warned. | Almost 200,000 civilians have been displaced from Sinjar town, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has warned. |
| Those trapped on the mountain are facing dehydration, and 40 children are reported to have died already. | Those trapped on the mountain are facing dehydration, and 40 children are reported to have died already. |
| "This is a tragedy of immense proportions, impacting the lives of hundreds of thousands of people," said UN spokesman David Swanson. | "This is a tragedy of immense proportions, impacting the lives of hundreds of thousands of people," said UN spokesman David Swanson. |
| "Many of the displaced are in immediate need of essential life-saving humanitarian items, including water, food, shelter and medicine." | "Many of the displaced are in immediate need of essential life-saving humanitarian items, including water, food, shelter and medicine." |