UK:Christians keep the flame of peace burning at Christmas

AAP General News (Australia)
12-26-2000
UK:Christians keep the flame of peace burning at Christmas

Around the world, Christmas messages from world leaders have expressed the desire for
peace in troubled areas.

Only Iraqi leader SADDAM HUSSEIN issued a call to arms, calling on Christians and Muslims
around the world to wage a holy war against Israel.

In the West Bank town of Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, tourists avoided the two-thousand
year anniversary of Christmas, after three months of Palestinian-Israeli violence which
has left 345 people dead.

In Indonesia, many Christians avoided Christmas Day services after a spate of fatal
church bombings on Christmas Eve.

Indonesian President ABDURRAHMAN WAHID has blamed forces intent on destabilising the
country for the attacks.

Pope John Paul II has also expressed dismay over the attacks which killed at least 15 people.

In his traditional Christmas Day message, the pontiff also lamented the endless streams
of refugees from conflicts around the world.

Britain's Queen ELIZABETH told a vast audience via television, radio and the Internet,
that she and many other people have been inspired by Jesus' teaching to treat others as
you would like them to treat you.



AAP RTV arb/klw l

KEYWORD: XMAS WORLD

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