BAGHDAD (AFP) - Iraqi Christians braved violence and walked to churches across Baghdad to celebrate Easter amid a power vacuum and raging sectarian violence that continues to keep peace away from the country.

 

Dressed in their Sunday best, men, women and children were seen attending prayers for peace and special Easter mass services in various churches.

In central Baghdad's Saint George's Church, dozens of devout Christians were led by father Raad Saleem, 55, for a special Easter prayer appealing for "peace and normalcy in Iraq."

"I pray that life returns to normal in Iraq and the country gains stability," said Saleem as worshippers kneeled and bowed their heads.

Calling for an end to the sectarian violence that has killed hundreds, Saleem said, "We want a national unity government soon and not a government that encourages selfish interests."

"We want ministries serving Iraqis, providing employment, law and order and not ministries that are based on sectarianism."

Four months after elections for the first post Saddam Hussein parliament, Iraq has failed to put together a cabinet due to bickering over ministerial berths and the candidacy of incumbent premier Ibrahim Jaafari.

In a corner of the church, musicians played pianos as a group of children sung carols in Arabic while their teacher Nada Izzat, 30, watched.

Remembering the days of the former regime, Izzat spoke ruefully about both past and present.

"Iraq is free now but far away from peace," the teacher said.

"At that time (under Saddam), we used to face restrictions on our freedom of expression. Today we are free, but unfortunately there is no security."

Gesturing to the sky, she said, "We pray for the sake of Iraqis and to bring peace to this country. Today was the day when Jesus came back for the sake of humanity and I hope that this day brings peace for everyone."

Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which according to the Bible occurred three days after he was crucified.

Abu Marian, 40, prayed for peace.

"In Iraq, the Christians have been attacked many times, but terrorists have failed to arouse hatred among them."

Since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003, violence has wracked Iraq and many churches have been bombed. Iraq's estimated 700,000 Christians have kept a low profile amid fears of attack from Islamic extremists, who view the community as pro-American.

"My wish is to leave Iraq because of this violence which does not differentiate among people," said 19-year-old Nubras Fadhal.

"I feel scared and insecure as I go about in Baghdad and my movements are restricted."

The community, which stood at more than one million people before the 1990

 

Gulf War, has shrunken over the years, with more and more people fleeing Iraq's insecurity for safer shores.

But Father Saleem, mindful of his community's exodus, rallied the faithful Sunday to fight for the rebuilding of their country.

"This country has been destroyed and now needs people who will reconstruct it," Saleem told AFP.

"We have to work together ... to rebuild and bring prosperity to this land. On this occasion we must forget hatred as it will only lead to failure of Iraq."

Offering his wishes for Easter, President Jalal Talabani said, "My Christian brothers and sisters are working jointly with their other brothers of Iraq in building a secured and democratic Iraq."

At Pope Benedict XVI in his first Easter message expressed hope that peace would "finally prevail" in Iraq, where violence "continues mercilessly to claim victims."

However, as prayers meetings went on in churches, eight people were killed Sunday across Iraq, including four in a bomb blast in Baghdad.