Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak handed power to his vice president but retained his title, a half-measure that confused observers, angered opposition leaders and provoked an uproar from hundreds of thousands of protesters massed in the center of the country’s capital.
The move sets up another conflict with the opposition movement, which has called on supporters to gather for a huge protest Friday. Expectations that the president would resign had built through the day, and the immediate reaction to the speech was anger, with protesters chanting “Leave, leave.”
An Army officer using a loudspeaker tried to calm protesters. “Let’s save our energy for tomorrow,” a man screamed to the crowd. “Go home and sleep, because tomorrow will be the day of judgment.”
I have been watching this on the BBC News 24 channel. Prayers are particularly needed at this time.
Thanks to Lent and Beyond, they draw attention to this prayer posted by +Mouneer Anis on the diocesan site:
“We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.†2 Chronicles 20:12b
Please continue to pray for Egypt and its people. Pray for wisdom for all those who are in authority. Pray that the spirit of fanatism and extremism would not penetrate our society. Pray for the financial needs of the people in general, and the staff of the diocese.
and this prayer list sent by letter by +Mouneer and posted by Canon Harmon:
We appreciate your prayers for:
•Our churches and institutions, so that we can fix our eyes on God who is in control. May what is happening help us to draw nearer to God and to know that the time is short.
•The end of demonstrations, especially in view of the changes that President Mubarak announced. This will bring Egypt back to normal and the curfew will be ended.
•The new government, in order to achieve the desired targets in serving the people, especially the Minister of Interior who is now trying to re-build the trust with the people of Egypt.
•People to find their needs of food and health care.
•Wisdom for the youth, in order not to allow the extremists to stir them up.
•The families who lost their loved ones in the violence, and those who are injured.
•Our beloved Egypt to recover this turmoil.
Obviously things have moved on today, but I am sure the prayers are needed for broadly the same things.