Iraq's persecuted Christians could be facing a more secure future thanks to radical plans for a Council of Christians backed by the country's president, writes Abigail Frymann.

Archbishop Louis Sako of Kirkuk has received support from President Jalal Talabani to set up a Council of Christians to address key social and cultural challenges facing the Churches.

The 30-member council will break new ground ecumenically, bringing together Chaldeans, other Catholic Churches, Armenians, Assyrians and Syrian Orthodox. Archbishop Sako, of the Chaldean Catholic Church, told the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN): "For too long, the Christians have struggled to get their views heard because so often they don't speak with one voice. The main purpose is that Christians should have a united front. If we have demands, we should present them together. We should not be separated and thereby enfeebled."

He said that Christians were tired, and  felt "hopeless and disappointed" because they did not know how long the instability they faced would continue. Archbishop Sako told the ACN that as the council's acting president, he had received express support for the plan from President Talabani, with whom he discussed the plan two weeks ago.