Christians forced to flee Iraqi city

MOSUL, Iraq, Oct. 12 (UPI) -- While security conditions have improved in Baghdad and Basra, those of Mosul, Iraq's third-largest city, are deteriorating, analysts say.

Mosul officials have appealed to the United States and the Iraq central government for help as hundreds of Christians have been forced to flee the city by Sunni Arabs belonging to Al-Qaida In Iraq, the BBC reported Sunday.

Mosul's Christians are falling prey to a campaign of killings aimed specifically at them, the broadcaster said. Mosul's provincial governor says about 1,000 Christian families have sought refuge in villages to the north and east of the city.

There were an estimated 800,000 Christians in Iraq in 2003, when coalition forces invaded, but since then their numbers are thought to have dropped dramatically, the broadcaster said.