Hostages die in Iraq church siege

At least 52 people were killed as security forces stormed a Catholic church in Baghdad to free dozens of hostages, said Deputy Interior Minister Major General Hussein Kamal.

He suggested six attackers had also died in the fighting, though other sources have said the overall death toll was lower.

The BBC understands that about 100 people had been inside Our Lady of Salvation for an evening Mass.

The gunmen had reportedly demanded the release of jailed al-Qaeda militants.

The local TV station, al-Baghdadiya, said it had received a phone call from someone claiming to be one of the attackers, who said they were from the Islamic State of Iraq, a Sunni militant umbrella group to which al-Qaeda in Iraq belongs.

Reports said the attackers were not Iraqis, but foreign Arabs.

Residents of Baghdad‘s Karada district, where the attack took place, first heard a loud explosion at about 1700 (1400 GMT) on Sunday, followed by gunfire.
Source:http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201011011140453