Egypt: Pope Benedict XVI prays for peace amid 'delicate situation'

Vatican City, 7 Feb. (AKI) - Pope Benedict XVI called for all sides to work for "the common good,". as Egypt's opposition remained divided over the demand that president Hosni Mubarak resign immediately rather than clinging on to power until elections in September.

During his Angelus address in St Peter's Basilica on Sunday, Benedict said he was currently "following the delicate situation in the dear nation of Egypt."

"I ask God that that land, blessed by the presence of the Holy Family, may rediscover tranquillity and peaceful coexistence, in a shared commitment for the common good," he pontiff stated.

Relations between the Vatican and Egypt last month became rocky following attacks on Christians in the Middle Eastern country.

On 11 January, Egypt recalled its ambassador to the Holy See following remarks made by Benedict voicing support for minority Coptic Christians and urging better protection for them after the New Year's Eve attack on a church in the northern Egyptian city of Alexandria killed 23 people and injured 80.

On 11 January, Egypt recalled its ambassador to the Holy See following remarks made by Benedict voicing support for minority Coptic Christians and urging better protection for them after the New Year's Eve attack on a church in the northern Egyptian city of Alexandria killed 23 people and injured 80.

Anti-government protesters camped out in Tahrir Sqaure in the heart of Cairo for the 14th day, have vowed to stay until Mubarak quits, and hope to take their campaign to the streets on Tuesday and Friday.

Mubarak's government was due to hold its first full meeting of a new cabinet on Monday. Mubarak, who has refused calls to step down before September polls, says he fears "chaos" would ensure and has tried to focus on restoring order and ending the country's economic paralysis.

While banks have reopened, schools and the stock exchange remain closed protesters prevented an important government building from reopening.

The protesters formed a human chain around the Mugamma - where people go to get official paperwork processed - to prevent it from opening as normal, while the army looked on as it has been instructed not to use force.

Over the weekend, senior leaders of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood movement and other opposition groups held landmark talks with Egypt's vice-president and former intelligence chief Omar Suleiman which failed to end the protests.

Egyptian state TV said the participants had agreed to form a joint committee of judicial and political figures tasked with suggesting constitutional amendments.

But opposition leaders said they were sceptical of the government's motives and that the measures did not go far enough.

Clashes between anti- and pro- government forces in Cairo and other Egyptian cities have left some 300 people dead and about 4,000 more have been injured since the unrest broke out on 25 January, according to UN estimates.