The Rev Hon Fred Nile MLC, Leader of the Christian Democratic Party, has called for the Christian community in Australia to pray for their brother and sisters in Egypt amidst escalating persecution.

"Tonight I have heard very disturbing reports from our Christian sisters and brothers in Egypt . It has been reported to me that dozens of Christian men, women and children have been injured and at least one individual confirmed killed after a Muslim mob laid siege to a Cairo Church whilst the congregation was in prayer," said Rev Fred Nile.

"Apparently the attack on St Mary's Church, in the suburb of El Tarlebia, has been going for several hours and has been join by Egyptian security forces. I truly hope that is not the case.

I ask all Christians to pray for the safety of their brothers and sisters in Egypt . I also call on the Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak, to honour his recent promise and ensure the minority Christian community is protected from all acts of violence and persecution", Rev Nile stated.

The recent attack comes in the wake of escalating violence toward the Christian Coptic community in Egypt. On November 15th and 16th, a Muslim mob destroyed 22 houses in the Christian sector of Al-Nawahed village, Abu-Tesht in Qena province. It was reported that the owners were beaten by security forces until they signed a declaration that the destruction had been caused through a random act of nature.

The Wall Street Journal disclosed the name of Mustafa Badr al-Din, Hizballah's No. 2 after Hassan Nasrallah as deputy for special security affairs. debkafile's sources name at least three more leading lights of the Lebanese Shiite militia who face summonses to stand trial before the international tribunal for planning and executing the Hariri assassination. They are:

Wafiq Safa: Head of Hizballah's special security and intelligence apparatus, one of Nasrallah's closest cronies.

His powers are broader than his title would indicate: Safa acts as deputy of the Iranian Al Qods officer, Gen. Hossein Mahadavi, who has taken command of the Hizballah militia as chief of staff. In this capacity, Safa would be assigned to spearhead the grab for power Hizballah is planning for the moment the STL issues indictments. Safa is also charged with coordinating military cooperation between Hizballah and its two Lebanese allies, Michel Aoun's Christian militia and Walid Jumblatt's Druze forces. Given the tactical talents he displayed by engineering the cross-border abduction of Israeli soldiers in 2006 and other Hizballah border encroachments, Wafa may be wily enough to wriggle out of being extradited to The Hague for trial.

Talal Hamiya: Head of the Special Duties branch of Hizballah's Jihad Council. A former operations deputy under Hizballah's late military commander Imad Mughniyeh (who died in a bomb explosion in Damascus in 2008), his current duties include command of the special details securing Hizballah's various branches and the conduct of "special" (terror) operations around the world. Hamiya is also responsible for Hizballah's intelligence service. Ibrahim Muhammad Akil, incumbent military commander of southern Lebanon, i.e., the front against Israel.

debkafile's sources say that the tribunal's special prosecutor, Daniel Bellemare, has obtained proof that on the day of the Hariri assassination, the four Hizballah officials named here had set up a makeshift command center for running the operation - a huge explosion which killed another 22 people. From there, they used Hizballah's internal military telephone network to post their orders and coordinate the tasks of the field teams. Bellemare's investigators have been going around Beirut looking for evidence of this telephone network - often in unlikely places. Last month, their search at a military clinic ran into violent resistance from Hizballah, drawing a complaint from UN secretary Ban Ki-moon. If Hizballah makes good on its threat to overthrow the Lebanese government and so preempt the STL's indictments and its officers' extradition, debkafile's sources fear Lebanon could find itself governed by terrorists who, moreover, have been inculpated for political assassination by an international tribunal. In these circumstances, the UN Security Council would have little choice but to lead an international boycott of Lebanon, impose stiff sanctions aimed at toppling the Hizballah regime or even mandate an invasion to restore legitimate government in Beirut.

Hizballah's first act on attaining power would almost certainly be a demand for the UN Secretary General remove the 20,000 UNIFIL peacekeepers policing South Lebanon

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“There is talk about a new government, which could be the solution [for the current political impasse.] However, harmony should reign among government members if they are to govern,” Sfeir told The Daily Star in an interview held in Bkirki, the seat of the Maronite Patriarchate overlooking the bay of Jounieh.

Asked to comment on the possibility of forming a new Cabinet headed by someone other than Hariri, the softly spoken Sfeir said, “I do not know but Hariri is the most prominent man who imposed himself under the current circumstances.”

At the Maronite patriarch’s grand hall, Sfeir elaborated on the latest political developments.

“There should be interaction among government members to be capable of governing, whereas if every group pulls the rope to its side, then the Cabinet will fail to move forward,” he added, reiterating his earlier statements, questioning the competence of a Cabinet comprising both the opposition and the majority.

“Lack of mutual understanding reigns and differences exist over most topics,” he said.

Sfeir said he was “unaware of new developments” in the Saudi-Syrian efforts to put an end to the political deadlock. The regional contacts are aimed at buying time to avoid a rupture in dialogue and consequently tension among the Lebanese.

“Nevertheless, efforts continue in favor of uniting the Lebanese,” he added.

Asked whether French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner discussed with him during his visit to Lebanon regional contacts that might lead to the amendment of the Taif Accord, Sfeir said no party brought up the subject before him.

“We do not mind an amendment to the Taif equation if it is for the better but if it is for the worse of course we will reject it,” he added.

Sfeir, who was visited earlier in the day by Saudi Ambassador Ali Awad Osseiri, said Riyadh “is keen to preserve security in Lebanon and to bring the Lebanese closer to each other.”

The patriarch described as politically motivated news reports concerning scenarios that might follow the issuance of the indictment by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which Hizbullah says is set to implicate members of the party.

“This is political activity and everyone through such endeavors is insisting on his point of view for the purpose of achieving personal gains,” he said.

Sfeir said media reports that the opposition would attempt a coup might be aimed only to intimidate.

Recent reports by the pro-Hizbullah daily Al-Akhbar said the party was planning to besiege a number of security institutions and Hariri’s residence if the STL indictment involves some its members. Hizbullah neither confirmed nor denied the reports.

However, when asked whether he was concerned that such scenarios would take place, Sfeir said “I cannot answer that question but some might have hidden intentions to launch a coup. However, such claims could have no valid basis.”

As for Hizbullah’s escalatory stances in condemnation of the STL, Sfeir said “the tribunal was established and exists as investigations are being carried out, while Hizbullah certainly wants to refute the accusation against it and this is a way to do so.”

“We want the government and the tribunal along with stability,” Sfeir said when asked whether he endorsed Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea’s position that he would choose to keep the tribunal over the Cabinet if facing a choice between the two.

Touching on the issue of US support for Lebanon’s stability, Sfeir said the United States had not conveyed to him any guarantees in that regard.

“I am not aware of any guarantees but they say that they support an independent Lebanon where calm and tranquility reign,” he said. Asked whether he trusted such pronouncements, Sfeir, laughing, said “it is better than opposite [statements].”

Asked about MP Walid Jumblatt’s recent positions, Sfeir said politicians shift stances in line with changing circumstances in order to fulfill their objective.

“I do not believe he is helpless but he follows his political compass, which determines his course of action,” he added when asked whether Jumblatt was forced to shift positions and move closer to the March 8 coalition.

On another note, Sfeir denied that the patriarchate called for Monday’s March 14 Christian parties’ gathering at Bkirki but said it was rather March 14 parties that asked to visit the patriarchate “whose doors are open for all.”

“We welcome whoever comes to us; March 14 personalities came, so we received them and if others want to come, we will do the same,” Sfeir said.

Asked whether the gathering aimed to strengthen the role of March 14 Christian groups within the March 14 alliance to ensure that their ally, the Future Movement, would not adopt unilateral decisions, Sfeir said the patriarchate lacked knowledge of any intentions behind the visit.