#NEWS ; Iraq vows to punish security officials responsible for Baghdad's church attack

2010-11-02 23:29:07

BAGHDAD, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi government Tuesday said it will punish security officials responsible for Sunday's terrorist attack on a church in Karrada district of central Baghdad, which claimed the lives of 58 people, mostly Christian worshippers, statement and police source said.

"The cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki decided to form a committee to investigate and punish security officials responsible for Karrada district," government spokesman Ali al- Dabbagh said in a statement.

Dabbagh also said that the government will finance the repair of the church, treatment of the wounded and compensate the victims ' families.

Meanwhile, a police source said that Maliki, as commander in chief for the Iraqi forces, issued order to detain the police commander of Karrada district where armed insurgents attacked the church of Lady of Delevirence, or Saidat al-Najat in Arabic, located for his failing in his duties.

On Sunday, gunmen wearing explosive vests and armed with grenades and assault rifles detonated a car bomb near the Iraqi security forces and attacked the church in Karrada, holding some 100 hostages inside.

About three hours later, Iraqi security forces stormed the church and freed the hostages after fierce fighting with the gunmen, leading 58 people killed including two priests, and other 75 injured.

On Monday, al-Qaida militant group in Iraq claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement and warned that Sunday's attack was just a beginning for more attacks against Iraqi Christians.

The Qaida gunmen demanded the release of women converted to Islam but were allegedly detained by churches in Egypt, according to the statement.

The Qaida militants wanted to exchange the Christian hostages in Baghdad church with the women detained in Egypt's churches, the group's statement added.

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