Gaza: A generation of casualties
Israel's foreign minister warned Palestinians against plans to declare independence next year saying the move could prompt Israel to annex parts of the West Bank and annul past peace agreements. His remarks took aim at a Palestinian policy coming out of the stalled U.S. peace talks. see Last Friday Israeli warplanes, responding to Palestinian border assaults, bombed the Gaza Strip resulting in two children being hospitalised. The children of Gaza have much misery to contend with as they try to put memories of the war behind them. Much of Gaza is still piles of sand and rubble. The winter rains have brought leaks and floods for family homes and the blockades cause many shortages of necessities. Currently there is a shortage of cooking gas. Power cuts are also commonplace making it very difficult for children to study at night. The children are stuck in Gaza with little hope of the freedom we take for granted.
Pray: for the children of Gaza to have a future and a hope; pray also for the Palestinian Christians to have all their prayers powerfully answered. (Ps.69:32-33,36)
More: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches/articles/children-of-gaza-filmmakers-feature
Kyrgyzstan: Opposition seizes power, dissolves parliament
Kyrgyzstan's opposition said on Thursday it had taken power and dissolved parliament after a bloody uprising forced President Kurmanbek Bakiyev to flee the capital. Roza Otunbayeva, leader of the interim government, demanded his resignation. She said Bakiyev was trying to rally supporters in his power base in the south. The uprising, which began in the northern town of Talas on Tuesday soon spread to the capital Bishkek. A missionary living in Jalalabad Bakiyev’s home town reports, ‘Bakiyev is reported to be in Osh - the second city of Kyrgyzstan located further west. It’s still peaceful here right now. Bishkek is a mess. There’s meant to be a new government led by a woman in the opposition party. Nothing has been signed officially so anything could still happen. There are differing reports on numbers dead maybe 1-200 casualties with hundreds more injured. Looting has been going on in Bishkek and even here shops are closed.’
Pray: for the situation in Kyrgyzstan that the problems will not escalate and there would be peace. (Pr.12:20)
Kyrgyzstan: Ex-leader Kurmanbek Bakiyev flies to Kazakhstan
Deposed Kyrgyzstan President Kurmanbek Bakiyev has left the country and flown to neighbouring Kazakhstan. His departure comes in the wake of a 7 April uprising that killed scores of people and forced him to flee the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek. He had been trying to muster support in his home region of Jalalabad in the south of the country. Kyrgyzstan's interim government said Mr Bakiyev had signed a letter of resignation. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said Mr Bakiyev's departure had been agreed with the US, Russia and the EU. The Russian Interfax news agency said Mr Bakiyev may fly on to Turkey or Latvia. Gunfire had been heard earlier as Mr Bakiyev spoke in the southern city of Osh; an opposition rally was going on nearby. Mr Bakiyev was quickly bundled into his car and driven back to Jalalabad where a plane was seen taking off from the nearby airport. (See also Prayer Alert 1510)
Pray: for the people of Kyrgyzstan that there would now be peace leading to just and stable government. (Job.22:21)
More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8623021.stm
Turkey: Church group announces day of prayer
The Association of Protestant Churches in Turkey is inviting Christians worldwide to join in a day of prayer for the predominantly Muslim country. The International Day of Prayer for Turkey will take place each year on April 18, the anniversary of the horrific murders of three Christian workers in a Bible publishing house in Malatya in 2007 by a group of young Muslim Turks. The group is asking Christians to pray that Turkey’s small Christian community can be strengthened in the Holy Spirit to live for the glory of God and that the people of Turkey will open their hearts and eyes to the Kingdom of God.
Pray: for the Turkish nation that they will have their hearts and eyes opened. (Mt.5:1)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/church.group.announces.day.of.prayer.for.turkey/23052.htm
