Stockholm (AINA) -- The wave of demonstrations (AINA 11-10-2010) following the Baghdad church massacre on October 31, which claimed 58 Assyrian lives, reached the Swedish capital Stockholm on Sunday. Nearly six thousand Assyrians rallied in support of their countrymen in Iraq who have been targets of an ethnic cleansing campaign (report) since the fall of Saddam Hussein.

Representatives from all Assyrian churches were present among the Assyrian political groups and the message was clear: grant the constitutional rights of the Assyrians in Iraq, establish the Nineveh Plain Assyrian administrative unit.

Article 125 of the Iraqi Constitution guarantees the administrative, political, cultural, and educational rights of Assyrians and other minorities in Nineveh and other areas where they are concentrated.

Groups who had earlier opposed an autonomous region for Assyrians have now changed their position. "Everything that can help the Christians of Iraq remain in the country is good, we now support the creation of the Nineveh plain administrative unit," said the representative of the Syriac Catholic church in his speech.

"United we are strong and we must demand what is our right in Iraq," proclaimed bishop Benjamin Attas from the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Representatives from all major Swedish political parties were present as well as major Swedish media.

The demonstration was arranged by tens of different Assyrian political organizations and church groups.