Iraq PM Al Maliki orders action over kidnapped Chaldean archbishop

Baghdad: Nuri Al Maliki, Iraqi Prime Minister said on Tuesday his top priority is ensuring safety for the kidnapped Chaldean Catholic archbishop and his release.

On Friday, Paulos Faraj Rahho was kidnapped after he left a church. In the attack, gunmen killed his driver and two guards.

"The prime minister has issued an order to the interior minister and all security officials of Nineveh province to follow the case and work very hard to release (Rahho) as soon as possible," said the Prime Minister's office.

On Saturday, the UN envoy to Iraq, Staffan de Mistura, called on Iraqi government to "redouble its efforts" to protect religious minorities in Iraq.