** UPDATED 20/8/03 **
At approx, 9.30pm last night ( 19/8/03 EST), the good news was received that the forces of evil surrounding St Anthony's monastery were given instructions to leave by the Prime Minister of Egypt Mr Atef Obeid.
They were instructed to leave without harming anyone. The monks previously arrested were released back into the monastery.
The fathers from St Anthony's last night , were very grateful for all efforts of support and prayer.
Never before have the authorities in Cairo responded so quickly..
Any further attacks on the monastery and/or martydom would have back
d on the Egyptian Authorities in Cairo.
If you have the time, please log onto the Egyptian government website and send a thank-you to the Egyptian Prime Minister, Mr Ated Obeid , for ordering the immediate withdrawal of the troops and bulldozers.
Whilst you are writing to him , please do not forget the injustices which took place in El-Kosheh in 1998 and 2000, and the fact that no one has been charged for the murder of the 21 Copts , A Copt from el kosheh named shaiboob William is still serving a 15 year jail sentence for a crime he did not commit and the police from el kosheh who tortured over 1200 copts in 1998 have been promoted...
http://www.coptic.org.au/modules/new...php?storyid=47