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Iraq Christians flee as Islamic State takes Qaraqosh | Iraq Christians flee as Islamic State takes Qaraqosh |
(35 minutes later) | |
Thousands of Christians are reported to be fleeing after Islamic militants seized the minority's biggest town in Iraq. | Thousands of Christians are reported to be fleeing after Islamic militants seized the minority's biggest town in Iraq. |
The Islamic State (IS) group captured Qaraqosh in Nineveh province overnight after the withdrawal of Kurdish forces. | The Islamic State (IS) group captured Qaraqosh in Nineveh province overnight after the withdrawal of Kurdish forces. |
An international Christian organisation said at least a quarter of Iraq's Christians were leaving Qaraqosh and other surrounding towns. | An international Christian organisation said at least a quarter of Iraq's Christians were leaving Qaraqosh and other surrounding towns. |
IS has seized large parts of Iraq and Syria to create an Islamic caliphate. | IS has seized large parts of Iraq and Syria to create an Islamic caliphate. |
Kurdish forces, known as the Peshmerga, have been fighting the Sunni militants' advance in the north for weeks. | Kurdish forces, known as the Peshmerga, have been fighting the Sunni militants' advance in the north for weeks. |
In a separate development, the United Nations says some of the thousands of people trapped by IS militants in mountains near the town of Sinjar have been rescued. | |
Up to 50,000 members of the Yazidi religious minority fled there after IS overran Sinjar at the weekend. | Up to 50,000 members of the Yazidi religious minority fled there after IS overran Sinjar at the weekend. |
Christian 'catastrophe' | Christian 'catastrophe' |
The French organisation Fraternite en Irak said on its Facebook page (in French) that a majority of inhabitants of Nineveh escaped when the militants took over Qaraqosh and surrounding towns. | The French organisation Fraternite en Irak said on its Facebook page (in French) that a majority of inhabitants of Nineveh escaped when the militants took over Qaraqosh and surrounding towns. |
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. |
According to Fraternite en Irak, the commander of the Peshmerga in Qaraqosh told the town's archbishop late on Wednesday that the forces were abandoning their posts. | According to Fraternite en Irak, the commander of the Peshmerga in Qaraqosh told the town's archbishop late on Wednesday that the forces were abandoning their posts. |
Several senior clergymen in Nineveh have now confirmed that the towns have fallen. | Several senior clergymen in Nineveh have now confirmed that the towns have 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) southeast 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) southeast 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 or face death. | Last month, hundreds of Christian families fled Mosul after the Islamist rebels gave them an ultimatum to convert to Islam or face death. |
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. |