Egyptian churches welcome al-Sisi's call for Friday protests

Egypt's three Christian churches on Wednesday welcomed army chief and Defense Minister Abdel-Fatah al-Sisi's call for mass Friday protests to "authorize" him to "confront violence and terrorism." "The church welcomes al-Sisi's call to fight terrorism in the country," Coptic Bishop Sergius Sergius, the orthodox patriarchy deputy, told Anadolu Agency. "Al-Sisi's speech was very good in reaffirming the army's determination to combat terrorism," he added. "We pray for peace in Egypt." Earlier today, al-Sisi urged Egyptians to take to the streets for mass Friday protests to "authorize" him to "confront violence." "I'm asking the Egyptian people to go out like they did on June 30 and July 3," he said in a televised address at a graduation ceremony for military cadets. "I want you to show the world that you are authorizing me to confront any possible violence and terrorism," he added. Rev. Andrea Zaki Stephanous, vice-president of Egypt's Protestant community, said the army needed popular support at this crucial stage. "A public mandate to combat terrorism safeguards the security of all Egyptians," he told AA. Bishop Yohana Qalta, assistant to the Catholic patriarch in Egypt, described al-Sisi as "an Egypt-loving patriotic commander who does not want to do anything without a mandate from the people." "The Egyptian people should go out in their millions to exceed 30 million," he told AA.