Paris, France (AINA) -- The presidency of the Council of the European Union, currently held by France, issued a condemnation on Monday of the targeted killings in Mosul of Assyrian Christians during the past two weeks, saying "The Presidency of the Council of the European Union is profoundly concerned by the dangerous situation the Christians of Iraq live in and condemns firmly the violence taking place in Mosul, where individuals have been murdered on the basis of their religious affiliation". The statement included a hope that the Iraqi government will do what is necessary to protect the Christian minority.