Increasing persecution in Ethiopia

CHRISTIANS IN RURAL AREA OF ETHIOPIA FACE INCREASING PERSECUTIONA number of Christians in Ethiopia have been imprisoned or remain in hiding because of their faith in Christ, said a member of Voice of the Martyrs who recently visited the town of Alaba, 200 miles southeast of the capital of Addis Ababa. During his visit to the predominantly Muslim area, he met with various persecuted Christians. Two months ago five church leaders were imprisoned by local authorities, accused of speaking against Islam, the Koran and the religious leader of Alaba. Mohamed, a convert to Christianity, has been held in prison for a year without any formal charges. Another believer, Ajee Sheka Osman, remains in hiding. He is being chased by his sons who have been promised money and a trip to Mecca by Muslim leaders if they kill their father. Church leaders are helping hide Osman to protect his life. Muslim leaders in Alaba are working to eradicate Christianity in the community, which they consider to be a holy place. Christian youths are regularly harangued as Muslim scholars engage them in conversations, deliberately intending to confuse them and turn them from their faith.From the news flow of Interrcessors Network

Head of State: President Woldegiorgis Girma Prime minister: Meles ZenawiBorn in 1954, Meles Zenawi joined the fight against the Mengistu regime in the 1970s. Initially a Marxist-Leninist, by the 1990s he had become a proponent of the free market and parliamentary democracy. Upon Mengistu's overthrow, he was chosen as transitional head of state and was one of the architects of the 1994 constitution, which provided for a federal republic with ethnically-based regions. In 1995 he became prime minister.A longer list will follow.L.W:

Praying for nations and national leadershipETHIOPIAPresident Girma Woldegiorgis, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, Dep. Prime Min. Addisu Legesse, Dep. Prime Min. Kassu Ilala, Min. of Agriculture & Rural Development Vice Min. of Agriculture & Rural Development Belay Ejigu, Vice Min. of Agriculture & Rural Development Getachew Teklemedhin, Vice Min. of Agriculture & Rural Development Tekalign Mamo, Min. of Cabinet Affairs Berhanu Adelo, Min. of Capacity Building Tefera Walwa, Min. of Defense Abadula Gemeda, Min. of Education Genet Zewdie , Min. of Federal Affairs Abay Tsehay, Min. of Finance & Economic Development Sufian Ahmed, Min. of Foreign Affairs Seyoum Mesfin, Min. of Health Kebede Tadesse, Dr. Min. of Information Bereket Simeon, Min. of Infrastructure Kassu Ilala, Min. of Justice Harka Haroyu, Min. of Labor & Social Affairs Hassan Abdella, Min. of Mines & Energy Resources Mohamoud Dirir, Min. of Revenue Getachew Belay, Min. of Trade & Industry Girma Birru, Min. of Water Resources Shiferaw Jarso, Min. of Youth, Sports, & Culture Teshome Toga, Governor, National Bank Teklewold, Atnafu Ambassador to the US Kassahun Ayele, Permanent Representative to the UN, New York Abdul Mejid Hussein, Provided by Intercessors Network

Dear Hanna,You may ask for more lists.But the main channel to use is Intercessors Network – Intercessors.Network@comhem.seOccasional requests related to a specific prayer item may be of help in threads at this site.Lars