Praise the Lord, say readers of Ethiopia portal

Ethiopians in the US have expressed pride in their Coptic Orthodox co-nationals and Eritreans in Malta who unite in prayer every Sunday.

A blog on www.nazret.com, an Ethiopian news portal, carried a story published by The Times last Monday entitled Warring Ethiopians, Eritreans Unite In Valletta Church. Many comments have been posted on the story, a good number of them hailing the unity between nationals of the two countries in Malta.

One reader wrote:

"I am very proud of both Ethiopians and Eritreans worshipping together every Sunday. I hope the rest of us will follow their example."

Others agreed with what was said in the article - that Ethiopians and Eritreans were the same people and it was unfortunately the two countries' rulers who had divided the people.

A site visitor wrote that what was being done in Malta could be the start of something new.

"I urge (the silent majority) on both sides to reach out to each other... Start something new. I will be the first to apologise to my Eritrean brothers for all of the oppression and bloodshed caused by the current as well as the previous Ethiopian leaders. Will you do the same?"

Another reader wrote that the work started by the Eritrean and Ethiopian immigrants in Malta was wonderful.

"Our brothers and sisters who initiated this programme should be appreciated and everyone of us living in other places needs to follow their example. We need to understand that there will not be unity without difference. Finding peaceful solutions to our internal problems would lead both peoples towards mutual prosperity and fight poverty."

Another reader expressed pride in the Ethiopians and Eritreans in Malta saying they were a good example. An Ethiopian wrote that religion, sport and music unified people of different colour and belief.

He hoped it would one day be normal to see "Eritrean sisters and brothers" worshipping in the churches of Addis Ababa.