2004 church bombings in Baghdad and Mosul

[4] The rigged cars were parked outside churches and detonated when parishioners were leaving services.

[2] Iraq's national security adviser, Mowaffaq al-Rubaie, blamed the attacks on Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

[3] The Pope "firmly deplored the unjust aggressions against those whose only aim is to collaborate for peace and reconciliation in the country".

[2] The Russian Orthodox Church issued a statement saying "the attacks were an attempt to spark a religious conflict.

In a statement to Al-Jazeera television, a spokesman for Muqtada al-Sadr said: "This is a cowardly act and targets all Iraqis".