Blasts rock 5 Christian churches in Iraq

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BAGHDAD -- Predawn explosions yesterday ripped through five empty Christian churches in the Iraqi capital, which by nightfall also was the scene of the crashes of two U.S. helicopters, which killed two soldiers and wounded two others.

The church bombings occurred the day after the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Thousands of Christians have fled Iraq since the fall of the regime of Saddam Hussein. The church bombings, while claiming no casualties, appeared calculated to intimidate the remaining believers, estimated to number about 800,000.

"It was horrible," said Odet Abdul, 48, who attends one of the bombed churches and lives around the block, adding that she thought she was about to die when she heard the blast. "They want us to leave Iraq; that is the message."

The U.S. military said the causes of the helicopter crashes were not known; several copters have been shot down since November. The military's main attack helicopters, Apaches and Kiowa Warriors, are two-seat aircraft and usually fly in pairs.

The United States said the crashes occurred in southwest Baghdad about 8:30 p.m.

Christians in the capital swept up debris at the five churches, which were attacked within an hour and a half of each other starting about 4:30 a.m.

The Catholic Church of St. George was left a shell, barely standing. Large portions of the 2-foot-thick brick walls had collapsed and a fire consumed the carpets, pews, icons and plaster inside the domed building. A 2-foot-deep hole was found in the foundation directly on the doorstep, possibly where the bomb was planted.

Terrorist bombers struck five other Iraqi churches in a similar coordinated attack Aug.1 -- four in Baghdad and one in Mosul -- during afternoon Mass, killing at least seven.

Christian-owned liquor stores and DVD stores have been attacked by fanatical Muslims who oppose the sale of such merchandise.