An Iraqi family loads a Christmas tree into their car in Baghdad

BAGHDAD, December 24 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Iraq's Christians, who feel no less threatened by the anticipated U.S. strike than its Muslims, celebrate Christmas this year amidst U.S. war threats and continued U.N. inspections of so-called suspected sites in the feverish hunt for Iraq's alleged weapons arsenal.

Christmas paraphernalia belatedly appeared in Baghdad's hotels and streets.

"Our sales plans were regulated to the tempo of U.S. statements, as we tried to find out whether the aggression would be launched before Christmas," said Sami, an Iraqi Christian, displaying a local, poor version of Christmas trees on Baghdad's central Al-Karrada Street.

"When we saw it was quiet, we concluded that the Americans had put off the attack and began bringing out our merchandise," he told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Over the past two days, scores of trees have been lined up along Al-Karrada and Al-Saadun streets. Shops are offering artificial, elegantly and discreetly decorated trees from China, France or Lebanon, which sell for up to 120 dollars in a country where the average monthly salary is around 20 dollars, said AFP.

A Muslim Christmas tree vendor prays in Baghdad

Donning a Santa cap decorated with flickering plastic toys, Silva put the final touches to chocolate baskets she is selling for Christmas in her flower shop.

When she felt war would likely hit after Christmas, she hurried to Beirut to buy Belgian chocolate and caps like the one she wore.

"The three dozen caps I brought back were gone in 48 hours, and customers can't wait to get the goodies from Lebanon," she said, in an indication Iraq’s Christians are still determined to brush off war fears and have as happy a Christmas as can be.

"People have gotten used to the yearly war threats and want to live – while they still can. If they have one minute left to live, they want to make the most of it," she added.

Ballrooms at Al-Rashid, Baghdad's poshest hotel, have been reserved for private Christmas and New Year's Eve galas.

At the exclusive hunting club in Baghdad's Al-Mansur district, New Year's Eve revelers will have dinner and enjoy a performance by Iraqi celebrity singers and pop music selected by a DJ, said AFP.

At Baghdad's evangelical church, Arif, 26, listens to a children's choir rehearsing for the Christmas mass.

A graduate of Baghdad University's School of Arts, she is out of job, but despite this and the impact of the 12-year-old crippling U.N. sanctions, not to mention the war threats, she sees it as a sacred duty to celebrate Christmas in festive mood.

"God did not tell us to sink into depression. He told us to resist, morally and physically, and He will help us so long as we keep our faith," she told AFP.

Her friend, 18-year-old science student Zeina Philippe, concurred.

"Every year, we pray for an end to sanctions, for jobs, and for hope in the future. This year, I will also beseech God to spare us death and destruction," she said.

Members of UNMOVIC search a baby milk factory near Baghdad. Inspections are to continue Wednesday, Christmas Day

Meanwhile, at least three teams of U.N. weapons inspectors set off Tuesday, December 24, to inspect more suspected sites.

A convoy drove out of the inspectors headquarters at Canal Hotel in Baghdad heading for secret locations pursued by waiting reporters.

It was the 25th day of inspections since the United Nations experts resumed work in Iraq November 27 armed with Resolution 1441 to disarm the Baghdad regime.

Inspections were also to continue Wednesday, December 25 – Christmas Day.

U.N. spokesman in Baghdad Hiro Ueki said Monday, December 23, that about 150 inspections had now been carried out after a four-year break.

Some of the sites were visited several times, he said, adding there were currently 102 UNMOVIC and six IAEA inspectors in the country.

Ueki also said that the inspectors were preparing to interview Iraqi weapons scientists, but have yet to make any formal contact.