THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Italy and France have airlifted Iraqi Christians injured in the October 31 church attack to Rome and Paris for medical treatment, despite criticism that such actions are encouraging their exodus.
26 Iraqis were flown to Rome on Friday at the request of the Vatican, while the French government vowed to fly a further 93 Iraqis to Paris to add to the 54 already receiving treatment there.
Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, has warned other countries, without naming any, not to encourage Christians to emigrate.
"The countries that have welcomed the victims ... of this attack have done a noble thing, but that should not encourage emigration," Mr al-Maliki said.
Eric Besson, the French minister of immigration, said that his move fitted France's "tradition of asylum", and that asylum would be "handed out generously" to those who sought it. >>> | Friday, November 12, 2010
