Pope calls for end to sectarian violence in Iraq

ROME, Oct 22 (Reuters) Pope Benedict called on Iraqis and religious and political leaders worldwide today to stop the violence between religious factions in Iraq that has cost the lives of innocent Muslims and Christians.

The Pope, who is trying to mend fences with Muslims offended by a speech of his seen as portraying Islam as a violent faith, used his regular Sunday address to send ''cordial greetings'' to Muslims celebrating the end of their annual Ramadan fast.

''In dramatic contrast with this happy atmosphere there comes news from Iraq of the grave situation of insecurity and cruel violence to which many innocent people are exposed just because they are Shi'ite, Sunni or Christian,'' he said.

The US-backed Iraqi government is led by Shi'ite Muslims who are struggling to rein in Shi'ite militias battling Sunnis in a sectarian conflict that kills about 100 Iraqis every day.

Since the Pope's speech, Christians in Iraq fear they could become the targets of more violence.

Iraq's main Shi'ite and Sunni Muslim parties all denounced the Pope's remarks as an attack on the Prophet Muhammad, while demonstrators burned a white effigy of the Pope last month.

A recent US government report on religious freedom in Iraq estimated the number of Christians has shrunk to about 1 million from 1.4 million in 1987. Most are Catholics known as Chaldeans.

Reuters DKA GC1703