On Monday, an unknown group claimed responsibility for the series of church bombings in Iraq and warned that more attacks would follow. The statement, signed by an organisation calling itself the ‘Committee of Planning and Follow-up in Iraq’, was posted on an Islamic Web site.

The statement claimed that the inhumane bombings were in response to the US “crusader war” and evangelisation. This comment appears to be a retort to the language George Bush used in the run-up to the Iraq war when he used the term ‘crusade’. The comments made by Bush at the time caused an uproar after the US President told reporters “This crusade, this war on terrorism, is going to take a while.”

Bush, evidently undeterred continued to use the word ‘crusade’ to describe the war during the Bush-Chesney campaign earlier this year.

Responding to this, the unknown Islamic group said on the site, “you wanted a crusader war, so these are the results...we warned you”.

However, despite these claims to the atrocity, the Iraqi government has accused Al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zaegawi of carrying out the attacks, believing that the militants wanted to force Christians out of the country.

Five churches were hit in Iraq, with 4 going off in Baghdad, and two further threats defused outside other churches in Baghdad and Mosul. The attacks are reported to have killed at least 11 people and wounded more than 55.

Christians make up an estimated 3% of the Iraqi population and have generally had good ties with the Muslim community, although several recent attacks have targeted alcohol sellers, most of whom are Christians.

The WCC released a statement in reaction to the bombings, stating that it forcefully denounces the series of bombings which targeted Christian churches in Iraq.

The WCC general secretary, Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia said, “I was appalled to learn about the bombing of churches in Iraq. This action further undermines efforts to rebuild Iraq as a democratic society where all religious communities and peoples can live in harmony.

He concluded, “WCC and its member churches have actively supported humanitarian relief work in Iraq since the conflict started. We strongly condemn all forms of violence which target religious communities or any group of people, and which seek to introduce religious enmity into this conflict."

Kobia also sent a pastoral letter to the churches in Iraq expressing his solidarity with all the people of Iraq during their troubling times. He reassured them of his and WCC’s prayers of support.

Lina Moukheibar, WCC Middle East Secretary said “We should remember that the escalation of violence in Iraq has affected thousands of people, both Muslims and Christians, and our solidarity is with all victims."

According to reports, the bomb blasts in Baghdad also damaged offices of the WCC-related humanitarian organisation ACT-Action by Churches Together, as well as of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).

Iraqi government and religious leaders have also responded to the bombings. Iraq's most senior Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani said, "We condemn and reproach these hideous crimes, (the attacks have) targeted Iraq's unity, stability and independence."