Pope Shenouda to Akhbar Al-Yom: Majority of Copts abroad support Mubarak

In an exclusive interview to Akhbar Al-Yom Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria condemned bids by some Copts abroad particularly in US to stir up antagonistic sentiments of Muslims and Copts of Egypt. He asserted that Mubarak is the President of all Egyptian Copts and Muslims. Citing the issue of building more Churches, the Pope affirmed that several problems have been solved under Mubarak.

The Pope urged followers not to protest during Mubarak's US visit.

In a letter published Friday, the spiritual leader of Egypt's Coptic Christians has called on expatriate Copts in the United States to "behave wisely" during President Hosni Mubarak's visit to Washington.

Pope Shenouda III's letter is to head off possible protests during Mubarak's visit by Copts living in the United State over allegations of discrimination against Christians in Egypt.

'President Mubarak represents the balance in all of Egypt's policies. He exerts all his efforts for the sake of national unity,' Pope Shenouda said in his letter, published in two leading Cairo dailies.

Pope Shenouda told Akhbar Al-Yom that the majority of Copts abroad do respect President Mubarak, adding that Copts in US are preparing great reception for the Egyptian leader.

On the calls to stop US aid to Egypt, Pope Shenouda made it clear that he discussed such matter with the so-called US fact-finding committee that visited Egypt. He added that he received members of this committee only as members of a view-seeking committee to correct certain falsified accounts.

Pope Shenouda also affirmed that President Hosni Mubarak gave directives to facilitate building scores of new churches and renovating old ones. He, further, said that President Mubarak treat all Egyptians on an equal footing, expounding that Mubarak exerts all possible efforts to realize stability for the Egyptian people.