More than 50 killed in Baghdad church siege

At least 52 hostages and police officers were killed Sunday when security forces raided a Baghdad church to free more than 100 hostages held by Al Qaeda-linked gunmen, Reuters quoted a deputy interior minister as saying Monday.

Lieutenant General Hussein Kamal said 67 people were also wounded. "This death toll is for civilians and security force members," Kamal said, adding that the number did not include dead attackers.

Gunmen took hostages at the Our Lady of Salvation Church, one of Baghdad's largest, during Sunday mass. Sporadic gunfire rang out for several hours over the Karrada neighborhood near the heavily fortified Green Zone district where many embassies and government offices are located.

Witnesses told local television that the attackers shot at least one priest dead. Officials said the terrorists threatened to kill the 120 hostages unless Al Qaeda prisoners in Iraq and Egypt were released.

Al Qaeda's Iraqi affiliate, the Islamic State of Iraq, claimed responsibility for the attack.

A federal police source said on condition of anonymity that the rescue operation was extremely difficult. Officials say some of the attackers blew up their explosives vests or threw grenades during the raid.

"This crime of terrorism was aimed at destabilizing security and stability and creating chaos and driving Iraqis from their homeland," Prime Minister Nuri al-Malik said in a statement, demanding vigilance from Iraq's security forces.

Reuters