Forty five people were killed and 70 injured after Iraqi forces stormed a Christian church where militants were holding dozens of worshippers as hostages, al-Arabiya TV said Monday.
Iraqi forces stormed an Assyrian Christian church on Sunday evening, hours after militants had taken dozens of people hostage after the Sunday service, DPA reported.
The five militants were also killed as Iraqi forces moved to end the seizure out of concern that a large number of detainees would be killed by the hostage-takers.
Members of the al-Qaeda-affiliated Islamic State of Iraq had entered the Sayedat al-Najah Church, in central Baghdad. They were demanding the release of al-Qaeda members being held in Iraq and Egypt.