Armenian Man in Iraq Gunned Down in his Home

Violence around Iraq killed seven people on Monday, including two Christian friends gunned down in one of their homes in the latest in a spate of attacks targeting the minority community, security officials said, AFP reports.

The gunmen escaped after the evening attack in an eastern neighbourhood of the main northern city of Mosul, police said.

One of the victims was a Syrian Catholic employed in the provincial anti-corruption office. The other was of Armenian origin, the police said.

Last week, a spate of bomb and mortar attacks targeted the homes and businesses of Christians in the capital Baghdad, killing six people and wounding 33 and drawing international condemnation.

Those attacks came less than two weeks after 44 Christian worshippers, two priests and seven security personnel died in the seizure of a Baghdad cathedral by Islamist gunmen and the ensuing shootout when it was stormed by troops.

On November 3, Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the hostage-taking at the Syrian Catholic cathedral and warned it would step up attacks on Christians.