At least 900 Christian families have fled Mosul in
the last week, terrified by a series of killings and threats by Muslim
extremists ordering them to convert to Islam or face possible death, officials
said Saturday.
The attacks may have been prompted by Christian demonstrations ahead of
provincial elections, which are to be held by Jan. 31, 2009, the deputy
governor of Nineveh province said, reported CNN.
An Interior Ministry official told CNN the homes of three families were
destroyed with explosives Saturday after the occupants left. No injuries were
reported. The Christians have sought refuge in monasteries and churches and
with family members in other towns, the official said.
The deputy governor, Khasro Goran, said 13 Christians have been slain in
the past two weeks in the city, which is located about 420 kilometers (260
miles) north of Baghdad.
The attacks began after hundreds of Christians took to the streets in
Mosul and surrounding villages and towns, demanding adequate representation on
provincial councils, whose members will be chosen in the local elections.
The protests may have triggered the killings, Goran said.