Strasbourg, 26/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - In a resolution common to the EPP, S&D, ALDE, Greens/EFA, ECR and GUE/NGL Groups, adopted in plenary on Thursday 25 November, the European Parliament condemns the recent attacks against the Christian communities in Iraq. EU High Representative Catherine Ashton is invited to deal with this as a matter of priority. The Iraqi authorities are urged to drastically increase their efforts for the protection of Christians and vulnerable communities and the EU is called upon to step up the fight against terrorism. The Parliament also reiterates its longstanding opposition to the death penalty and invites the Iraqi government not to carry out the death penalty recently pronounced against three dignitaries of the former Saddam Hussein regime - former Foreign Minister Tarek Aziz, former Interior Minister Sadoun Shakir and Saddam Hussein's private secretary, Abed Hamoud. (E.H./transl.jl)