North Africa and the Middle East: Status and prayer requests as of February 21, 2011 ...

LIBYA: The premier denounced a "plot" to turn his country into a terrorist base, as anti-regime protests reached the capital and world powers slammed an iron-fisted crackdown said to have cost hundreds of lives.
   
IRAN: A massive police deployment in Tehran prevented large-scale protests from erupting, although Iranian opposition websites reported stray clashes and officials said the capital remained calm.
   
BAHRAIN: Bahrain's Sunni Muslim ruling family came under increased pressure to open in-depth talks with the Shiite-led opposition, as protesters erected more tents on the capital's Pearl Square and unions called off a strike.
   
MOROCCO: Thousands staged rallies in Moroccan cities demanding political reform and limits on the powers of King Mohammed VI, with protesters shouting "the people want change."
   
KUWAIT: Hundreds of stateless Arabs demonstrated for the third day running to press for basic rights and citizenship of the oil-rich Gulf state, and Human Rights Watch called for the release of dozens detained on Friday.
   
YEMEN: Hundreds of students demonstrated on the eighth straight day of anti-regime protests in Sanaa, while police shot dead a protester in south Yemen and the opposition vowed to join protests.
   
EGYPT: Three police officers in Alexandria face questioning over the shooting of protesters in the early days of the Egyptian uprising, as banks reopened and workers at Egypt's largest factory ended a strike.
   
TUNISIA: Tunisia's interim government asked Saudi Arabia to extradite deposed strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali as it faced a second day of protests on the streets of Tunis, demanding its resignation.
   
DJIBOUTI: Djibouti authorities have "provisionally released" three top opposition leaders briefly detained after unprecedented protests demanding regime change, the state prosecutor said.
   
IRAQ: At least eight people, four police and four civilians, were reported wounded when clashes erupted during a rally in the Iraqi Kurdish city of Sulaimaniyah.
   
JORDAN: King Abdullah II urged speedy reforms, comprehensive dialogue and more efforts to battle corruption amid popular discontent and pro-reform protests.
   
SYRIA: A jailed Syrian Kurdish blogger and rights activist, Kamal Hussein Sheikho, is on a hunger strike, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
   
ALGERIA: Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci told Spain's El Pais newspaper the anti-government revolts in Tunisia and Egypt will not spread to Algeria, a day after riot police clashed with protesters in the centre of Algiers.

Please pray for:

·      WORLD LEADERS-God sets up kings and deposes them; He changes times and seasons. Pray that these changes and shifts work to bring great glory to God and extend His kingdom among all peoples. Pray for opportunities for the gospel.

·      HEART HUNGER - Pray for real heart hunger in every individual throughout the Arab World, particularly among those with the least access to the gospel, that they would long to know the Truth and be set free; pray they find true freedom in Jesus.

·      RECONCILIATION - Hundreds of years of offense and strife have gendered bitter hostility between Christians, Jews and Arabs. Pray for God to soften the hearts of these, to heal the hurts, and to break down every dividing wall-making of them One New Man in Jesus Christ.

·      CREATIVE ACCESS - Ask God to make a way where there seems to be no way to share His love and truth with those held in restricted access environments. Pray for believers to be ready to give an answer for the hope within them boldly and sensitively. Pray for protection for our sisters and brothers as they continue to be light and salt in these difficult environments.

·      MODELS - Just as Jesus became flesh and dwelt among us so that we could know God, pray for believers who are willing to live incarnational lives among these groups, no matter what the challenges may be.

·      STUDENTS - Young people are often seeking answers for deep questions of life. Pray that God directs them to those who can give them the Answer.