19 nuns were released on Sunday from a Baghdad church besieged by members of the al-Qaeda affiliated Islamic State of Iraq, an Iraqi politician said.
Security forces who have surrounded the Syrian Catholic church managed to secure the release of 19 nuns, but dozens more people were still believed to be being held inside, Iraqi Christian parliamentarian Yonadem Kana told the German Press Agency dpa.
The militants launched an armed attack on the Sayedat al-Najah Church in al-Karrada during Sunday services, and were holding hostages. They threatened to kill the hostages if security forces tried to enter.
The militants were demanding the release of al-Qaeda members in Iraq and Egypt, Al-Baghdadiya TV reported.
It was not clear how many people were being held inside the church, but women and children were reportedly among the hostages.