IRAQ: Iraq accused al-Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi yesterday of carrying out co-ordinated car bombings at churches on Sunday, saying the militants wanted to drive Christians out of the country.
A group linked to Zarqawi also executed a Turkish hostage.
In response to the killing and a wave of kidnappings of Turkish drivers, a Turkish truckers' group said it would stop transporting goods to US forces in Iraq.
In a videotape of the Turk's execution shown on Islamist websites, a masked man shot the hostage while he was seated. When he fell to the ground, the gunman shot him twice more with a pistol while shouting "God is greatest".
The Turkish captive, dressed in a shirt and trousers, earlier identified himself on the tape as Murat Yuce.
"I saw American oppression in Iraq with my own eyes. But I stayed here to earn a bit of money," he said before being shot.
The Turkish truckers' decision was a blow for Washington and another success for kidnappers who have forced Philippine troops to withdraw and several firms to halt operations in Iraq.
"Until security can be guaranteed we have stopped transporting goods for US forces," said Cahit Soysal, head of the International Transporters' Association (UND). The group represents around 30 to 40 companies. Many Turkish firms are involved in reconstruction projects in Iraq.
Sunday's car bombs hit at least five churches in Iraq, including four in Baghdad. Police defused two more bombs outside other churches, one in Baghdad and the other in Mosul.
Pope John Paul branded the bombings "unjust aggression".
Human Rights Minister Bakhtiar Amin said the interim government of Prime Minister Iyad Allawi was trying its best to combat the insurgents and uproot their networks.
"This shows there are no borders to the barbarity of the crimes of these terrorists," he said in response to the attacks.
Parish priest Bashar Muntihorda, speaking outside a Chaldean church in Baghdad that was hit, said Christians were devastated.
Adding to Iraq's burden is the wave of hostage-taking. In one hostage stand-off, a tribal sheikh is negotiating to secure the release of seven foreign truck drivers.
The seven, three Indians, three Kenyans and an Egyptian, were taken last month and threatened with death. A Somali held by militants also linked to Zarqawi will be freed after his Kuwaiti employer agreed to halt operations in the country, Al Jazeera television said. - (Reuters)