Radio Vaticana report: Pope Benedict XVI appeals for calm, just peace in Egypt
Pope Benedict XVI appealed for calm and a return to peaceful coexistence in Egypt today.
“I have been following the delicate situation in the dear Egyptian nation with attention in these days,” said Pope Benedict, adding, “I ask God that that Land, blessed by the presence of the Holy Family, once again find tranquillity and peaceful coexistence, in shared commitment to the common good.”
The Holy Father’s appeal came as news began to break of major concessions from the government to opposition groups.
Egypt's vice president met a wide representation of major opposition groups for the first time Sunday and agreed to allow freedom of the press, to release those detained since anti-government protests began nearly two weeks and ago and to lift the country's hated emergency laws when security permits.
Vice President Omar Suleiman endorsed a plan with the opposition to set up a committee of judiciary and political figures to study proposed constitutional amendments that would allow more candidates to run for president and impose term limits on the presidency.
The committee was given until the first week of March to finish the tasks.
The regime also pledged not to harass those participating in the anti-government protests, which have drawn hundreds of thousands at the biggest rallies.
The government also agreed not to hamper freedom of press and not to interfere with text messaging and Internet.
There were several reports during the past week of Mubarak supporters harassing journalists in Cairo, including Natalie Carney, who told how a group of young men stormed the office building she and her colleagues were using.
Sunday's meeting was the broadest representation of Egypt's fragmented opposition to meet with the new vice president since the protests demanding the immediate ouster of longtime President Hosni Mubarak began on Jan. 25.
The opposition groups represented included the youthful supporters of leading democracy advocate Mohamed ElBaradei, who are one of the main forces behind the protests.
The outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's largest opposition group also attended the meeting.
The two sides also agreed at the meeting that the government would open an office to field complaints about political prisoners.
The government also pledged to commission judicial authorities to fight corruption and prosecute those behind it.
In addition, the government agreed to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the as-yet unexplained disappearance of police from Cairo's streets more than a week ago, which unleashed a wave of lawless looting and arson.
is A Sunni Muslim and the secretary general of Lebanon's Christian-Muslim Committee for Dialogue, Mohammed Sammak hopes that the political developments will open doors for better relations between Christians and Muslims in the future throughout the entire Mideast region. “It’s not between Christians and Muslims,” he said, “Christians and Muslims are on the same side.”
Pope Benedict XVI appealed for calm and a return to peaceful coexistence in Egypt today.“I have been following the delicate situation in the dear Egyptian nation with attention in these days,” said Pope Benedict, adding, “I ask God that that Land, blessed by the presence of the Holy Family, once again find tranquillity and peaceful coexistence, in shared commitment to the common good.”
The Holy Father’s appeal came as news began to break of major concessions from the government to opposition groups.
Egypt's vice president met a wide representation of major opposition groups for the first time Sunday and agreed to allow freedom of the press, to release those detained since anti-government protests began nearly two weeks and ago and to lift the country's hated emergency laws when security permits.
Vice President Omar Suleiman endorsed a plan with the opposition to set up a committee of judiciary and political figures to study proposed constitutional amendments that would allow more candidates to run for president and impose term limits on the presidency.
The committee was given until the first week of March to finish the tasks.
The regime also pledged not to harass those participating in the anti-government protests, which have drawn hundreds of thousands at the biggest rallies.
The government also agreed not to hamper freedom of press and not to interfere with text messaging and Internet.
There were several reports during the past week of Mubarak supporters harassing journalists in Cairo, including Natalie Carney, who told how a group of young men stormed the office building she and her colleagues were using.
Sunday's meeting was the broadest representation of Egypt's fragmented opposition to meet with the new vice president since the protests demanding the immediate ouster of longtime President Hosni Mubarak began on Jan. 25.
The opposition groups represented included the youthful supporters of leading democracy advocate Mohamed ElBaradei, who are one of the main forces behind the protests.
The outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's largest opposition group also attended the meeting.
The two sides also agreed at the meeting that the government would open an office to field complaints about political prisoners.
The government also pledged to commission judicial authorities to fight corruption and prosecute those behind it.
In addition, the government agreed to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the as-yet unexplained disappearance of police from Cairo's streets more than a week ago, which unleashed a wave of lawless looting and arson.
is A Sunni Muslim and the secretary general of Lebanon's Christian-Muslim Committee for Dialogue, Mohammed Sammak hopes that the political developments will open doors for better relations between Christians and Muslims in the future throughout the entire Mideast region. “It’s not between Christians and Muslims,” he said, “Christians and Muslims are on the same side.”
Comments