Russia: Deadly clashes on border
A gun battle on the Karachayeva-Stavropol border stirs fears of violence spreading across the ethnically divided Caucasus. Violence in that particular area has been less frequent than in neighbouring Dagestan, or Ingushetia and Chechnya where deadly attacks take place almost daily. One of the bombers behind numerous attacks has been Marina Khorosheva, a young Russian woman also linked to the failed suicide attack in Moscow's Red Square on December 31. She and her husband, Vitaly Razdobudko, were Orthodox Christians who converted to Islam - leading press to dub them ‘the Russian Wahhabi’. Pray: for God to calm ethnic conflicts and religious fanaticism and release a Holy Spirit revival to the region. (Pr.3:7) More: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2011/02/2011215172731379883.html
Middle East - North Africa Situation
As massive public protests sweep across the Middle East, North Africa, Bahrain, Libya, Yemen and Iran – many are being met with violent government crackdowns. Pray for God’s provision to be in place as change comes to the regions.
Pray for God’s wisdom in every decision made at this time.
Libya - At a crossroads
Saif Al-Islam Gadhafi, 38,the son of Moammar Gadhafi warned that the country faces civil war and ‘rivers of blood’. Several cities, including Libya's second most populous Benghazi have fallen to demonstrators following the defection of some army units. The International Federation for Human Rights put the Libyan death toll at 300 to 400.
Media watchers are saying, ‘If reforms are not agreed we will be mourning thousands not hundreds’, and ‘The mindset of a dictator is hard to change’.
Pray for Gadhafi to be levelheaded and prudently choose an immediate and gracious stand down of all aggressive actions against his people.
British energy giant BP is preparing to evacuate some staff from Libya, which holds Africa's biggest oil reserves. Oil prices have soared since the turmoil.
Pray that financial interests in the regions’ oil reserves will not influence global governments’ attitudes and proposals in this crisis.
A privately-run Libyan newspaper reported that the country's justice minister had resigned and had sided with the protesters. He said he is trying to ‘organize good things in all cities.' He also said that key cities near Libya's border with Egypt were now in the hands of the protesters, which he said would enable foreign media to now enter the country.
Pray for God to raise up many people within Libya to work towards a peaceful resolution.
Pakistan: Defender of Asia Bibi keeps his cabinet position
Many Pakistani Christians are delighted with the news that Minorities Minister, Shahbaz Bhatti, has survived a major Government reshuffle that took place last Thursday. In recent times, Bhatti has become a lightning rod for extremists in Pakistan, who have issued multiple death threats against him, including beheading, because he had proposed an amendment to the country’s controversial blasphemy law and also his recent request for a pardon for Asia Bibi, the mother of five, who was sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy. (See Prayer Alert 5010) For many Christians in Pakistan, this is an astounding development, as there were reports that the Ministry of Minority Affairs would not be included in the new Federal Cabinet, but we have discovered that the Central Executive Committee (CEC) took notice of the concerns of the minorities and invited Mr Bhatti to the oath-taking ceremony.
Praise: God for enabling Shahbaz Bhatti to continue supporting minorities including Christians in the Federal Cabinet. Pray for his protection. (Ps.5:11)
More: http://www.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=35655&PN=1&TPN=1
Pakistan: Defender of Asia Bibi keeps his cabinet position
Many Pakistani Christians are delighted with the news that Minorities Minister, Shahbaz Bhatti, has survived a major Government reshuffle that took place last Thursday. In recent times, Bhatti has become a lightning rod for extremists in Pakistan, who have issued multiple death threats against him, including beheading, because he had proposed an amendment to the country’s controversial blasphemy law and also his recent request for a pardon for Asia Bibi, the mother of five, who was sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy. (See Prayer Alert 5010) For many Christians in Pakistan, this is an astounding development, as there were reports that the Ministry of Minority Affairs would not be included in the new Federal Cabinet, but we have discovered that the Central Executive Committee (CEC) took notice of the concerns of the minorities and invited Mr Bhatti to the oath-taking ceremony.
Praise: God for enabling Shahbaz Bhatti to continue supporting minorities including Christians in the Federal Cabinet. Pray for his protection. (Ps.5:11)
More: http://www.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=35655&PN=1&TPN=1