Churches forced to close in Indonesia

More and more churches in Indonesia are being forced to close as a campaign against minority Christians intensifies in the world's largest Muslim nation.

According to Christian Freedom International, a group that helps persecuted believers around the world, being a Christian in Indonesia is getting more difficult.

CFI says a radical Islamic group, AGAP, or Aliansi Gerakan Ant Pemurtadan, which translated means Anti-Apostasy Alliance Movement, is responsible for much of the persecution. Christian Freedom International is urging Indonesia's Muslim government to allow religious freedom and intervene to stop the forced shutdown of churches by AGAP.

Said Jacobson in a statement: "AGAP has a mission to close churches and basically eradicate Christianity in Indonesia. They use fear, intimidation, threats and obscure government regulations, in cooperation with local officials, to accomplish their goal."

CFI quotes one Indonesian Christian, Jacob, telling the story of one church closure:

I was cleaning up after the 5 p.m. worship service. AGAP came through the doors. These were not our neighbors; they were from the outside. More than 50 of them came into the church, wearing masks and carrying swords and backpacks of stones. I was so afraid.
They were very angry. They were shouting, "Allah Akbar!" I went out to call for help from the neighbors and call the police to come. The police came but did nothing.

The AGAP came in around 10 p.m. They left at 3 a.m. the next morning. They said this is the last time you can worship here. They said we must not worship here again.

At least 35 churches in Bandung and neighbouring regions have been closed by Islamic mobs during the past 12 months alone, CFI reported.

WND

14 killed in Iraq car bomb

A suicide car bomber has killed 14 people and injured over 40 outside a mosque in Hilla, south of Baghdad, as Shi'ite worshippers were gathering for the start of the holy month of Ramadan.

People were crowding round the entrance of the mosque when the car drove up and exploded, one senior police officer said.

Of the injured, six are in a critical condition.

Pakistan deports 3 suspects to UK

Three men were returned to the UK from Pakistan this morning to face questioning about the murder of Scottish school boy Kriss Donald.

The men have been wanted in connection with the murder since the offence occurred in March 2004, but without a formal extradition treaty the Pakistani authorities were unable to return them to the UK.

Speaking on the extradition, the British high commissioner said, "The murder of Kriss Donald was a vicious crime against an innocent 15-year-old boy that caused revulsion throughout the UK. The search for justice in this case continues, but I'm pleased to be able to say today that we have moved that process on considerably with the return of 3 suspects.

MN

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Warlords set for Afghan poll gain

Warlords look set to win a number of seats in Afghanistan's new parliament according to partial results from September's election.
Counting of votes is nearly over, officials say, and preliminary results are expected on Thursday.

Many Afghans said they were unhappy that so many of the candidates were warlords or linked to warlords.

They include Abdul Rasul Sayyaf who is alleged to have links to al-Qaeda.

Another controversial candidate is Hazrat Ali who has been linked to militia groups. He is the leading candidate in the eastern province of Nangahar.

One of the most outspoken critics of the warlords is a female candidate, Malalai Joya, who also looks set to be elected.

Five US soldiers killed

American forces on Wednesday continued in their biggest operation this year in western Iraq, seeking to retake three Euphrates River towns from al-Qaeda fighters. At least five U.S. service members have been killed in the fighting.

Operation River Gate - launched at the start of the holy month of Ramadan was the second American offensive in a week in Anbar province, near the Syrian border. Al-Qaeda in Iraq called for intensified attacks on U.S. and Iraqi forces during the holy month.

Blasts from U.S. warplanes and helicopters lit up the sky during the fighting. American warplanes struck bridges to prevent al-Qaeda in Iraq fighters from escaping the towns.

AB