*Tato a další zprávy jsou v originální anglické verzi zde.

Two prominent leaders of violent attacks in the Republic of Georgia were sentenced to prison on Monday, Jan. 31. Defrocked Orthodox priest Basil Mkalavishvili and his main accomplice, Petre Ivanidze, were found guilty of leading a five-year campaign of terror against religious minorities. Mkalavishvili was sentenced to six years in prison and Ivanidze to four years. Their lawyers plan to appeal the sentences. During the reign of terror, Baptists, Pentecostals, Jehovah's Witnesses, Catholics and True Orthodox members suffered from more than 200 mob attacks, destruction of places of worship, burning of religious literature and physical injuries to individual believers. "It's a good sign, but the indictment covered only a tiny percentage of the crimes Mkalavishvili and his followers committed," said Levan Ramishvili, head of the Tbilisi-based Liberty Institute. "They maintained their innocence throughout, banking on the fact that the prosecution would not be able to get any proof because of intimidation of witnesses." Interior Ministry Press Secretary Guram Donadze declined official comment on the sentences, but said further investigations into the attacks are under way. (Forum 18 News Service)

NEPAL'S PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS WARY AS NEW KING TAKES POWER

Nepal's King Gyanendra sacked the government and assumed power Tuesday, Feb. 1, raising fears among the country's embattled Christian minority. Speaking on national radio and television, Gyanendra said he had "dissolved the government in the larger interests of the people" of Nepal, the world's only Hindu kingdom. He also declared a state of emergency, saying that authorities had failed to impose adequate security amid the Maoist rebellion that has claimed more than 11,000 lives since 1996. Sources said several government officials and other politicians were put under house arrest while security was increased around the capital, Kathmandu. Attempts were made to close down Nepalese news websites and several telephone connections were down. While it's unclear how the latest developments will affect Christians, analysts say the monarchy has a poor history of allowing Christian activities. Despite persecution in Nepal, researchers say the church in Nepal has seen rapid growth in recent years, doubling to more than 500,000 Christians (2 percent of the population) who attend some 3,000 churches. (BosNewsLife)

SOME IRAQI CHRISTIANS REPORT BEING DENIED CHANCE TO VOTE

Some Iraqi Christians reported that their relatives in Kurd-controlled northern Iraq were prevented from voting in Sunday's election. Simon George, co-director of an Assyrian satellite television station, said he received "at least 100 calls" from Assyrians complaining about being deprived of the vote in Christian villages around Mosul. He said that Assyrian Christians were promised ballot boxes that never arrived. Many of the Iraqi Christians who did cast ballots in the Jan. 30 election say they voted for Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, a secular Shiite Muslim. A Christian housewife at a Baghdad polling station said a vote for Allawi meant "choosing a strong leader who does not differentiate between Iraqis of any religion." A Christian couple said they were defying insurgents and choosing a leader who they hope will bring security to Iraq. Another Iraqi Christian said, "This is our land and we will stay here," adding that Christians were in the area "even before Islam." Christians make up about 3 percent of Iraq's population. Iraqi officials estimate that more than 15,000 Christians have left the country since August when car bombings at five churches killed 12 people and injured 61 others. (AgapePress)

COURT DELAYS FINAL APPEAL FOR MENNONITE CHURCH LEADERS IN VIETNAM

The Ho Chi Minh City People's Court has announced a delay in the appeal of Rev. Nguyen Hong Quang and evangelist Pham Ngoc Thach of the Vietnam Mennonite Church which was originally set for today. Quang's wife was informed of the postponement by her husband's defense attorney on Thursday, Jan. 27. The court has not yet set a new date. Following their trial on Nov. 12, 2004, Quang and Thach received three- and two-year prison sentences respectively on charges of "inciting others to resist persons doing their official duty." Quang, a well-known human rights activist and promoter of religious freedom and general secretary of the unregistered Vietnam Mennonite Church, was arrested by 30 security police last June in the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City. He was charged with "inciting others to resist persons doing their official duty." The charges came after undercover police visited Quang's home church on March 2, 2004. A total of four men were arrested, and both Quang and Thach continue to be held in the Chi Hoa Prison in Ho Chi Minh City. (Christian Solidarity Worldwide)

NEW OM SHIP TO GET RETROFIT IN PREPARATION FOR WORLDWIDE MINISTRY

Operation Mobilization is one step closer to seeing another ship added to its fleet to help in the ministry's worldwide outreach. The Logos Hope began its 12-day voyage from Copenhagen, Sweden, to Montenegro, on Tuesday, Feb. 1. Copenhagen had been the home of Logos Hope for the past 10 months as OM completed design and specification details for the ship's rebuilding work. The Logos Hope will enter a shipyard in Montenegro to begin the rebuilding work. While the repairs are an answer to prayer, mission leaders say project still faces some challenges as refit costs are coming in higher than expected, and the project will take longer than originally estimated. (Mission Network News)

2,500 PEOPLE ATTEND 4th CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP CONGRESS IN GERMANY

More than 2,500 leaders from the worlds of politics, economics, commerce and industry gathered for the fourth Christian Leadership Congress in Nuremberg, Germany, Jan. 20-22. The convention was organized jointly by the evangelical news agency IDEA and Tempus Time Management Systems. Congress Chairman Rev. Horst Marquardt Wetzlar called for courageous leaders to stand up for their faith and implement time-tested biblical values. He encouraged leaders to follow the example of young Christians and ask themselves, "What would Jesus do?" Among the keynote speakers were Daimler-Chrysler Vice President Michael J. Inacker, Bavarian Lutheran Bishop Johannes Friedrich and well-known German television news journalist Peter Hahne. (Assist News Service)

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