DHAKA: A car bomb has exploded near a church in the Iraqi capital, as Christians celebrated Christmas Day, killing at least 14 people.

Iraq police and medics said, reports Al Jazeera.

The bomb went off in the Doura district on Wednesday while worshippers were leaving the church, police said, and most of the victims were Christian.

At least 28 people were wounded in the blast.

The attack comes a day after Christians in Iraq celebrated their first Christmas Eve midnight mass in Baghdad since 2003, taking advantage of intensive security measures in the capital.

Festivities have been overshadowed in recent years as targeted attacks on the Christian community forced thousands to flee a country where Christians once numbered about 1.5 million.

A Christmas mass service in 2010 was cancelled after Christians received threats by al-Qaeda in Iraq.

BDST: 1613 HRS, DEC 24, 2013
Edited by Robab Rosan, Current Affairs Editor