In his Christmas letter to the heads of other churches, the Archbishop of Canterbury has urged support for Christians and others facing hardship or persecution.

A special Mass for all those who have died or been injured in recent weeks in Iraq was held at Westminster Cathedral, in London, yesterday evening.

The Moderator of the Church of Scotland has lamented the "incomprehensible" persecution of Christians in Iraq, and called for increased solidarity.

Church leaders, including the head of the WCC, have condemned the recent attack in Baghdad, when gunmen took hostages in the Sayidat al-Nejat Church.