CHURCH DESTROYED

KOSOVO

20 November 2002

A Christian church in the village of Ljubovo was completely destroyed by an explosion in the early hours of 17 November. A second explosion damaged another church in the town of Djurakovac.

The bombings came on the eve of a visit to Kosovo by UN General Secretary Kofi Annan. At least 110 Serb Christian sites (churches, monasteries, graveyards etc.) have been damaged or destroyed in Kosovo since the United Nations took control in June 1999. Church leaders and other Christians have also faced violence and hostility from ethnic Albanians especially where UN checkpoints in the vicinity of churches have been withdrawn in recent months.

Ethnic Albanian Muslim extremists regard churches as symbols of Serbian domination and see them as legitimate targets. However, the vast majority of Serbian Christians in Kosovo had nothing to do with the ethnic cleansing which took place before NATO forces entered the province. Those who have not fled are now a minority in Kosovo and face continued violence from the ethnic Albanian Muslim majority.

Pray for protection for Christians and church buildings in Kosovo.

Pray that despite the long history of conflict in Kosovo, people from all ethnic groups and religions will be able to live together in peace.

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