BRITAIN: The Archbishop of York, the second most senior cleric in the Church of England, is to camp inside his cathedral and forgo food for a week in solidarity with those caught up in the Middle East conflict.
Archbishop John Sentamu said yesterday he cancelled a planned holiday and would instead sleep in the 13th-century gothic cathedral of York Minister.
"In the Middle East there are thousands of people sleeping in churches, bunkers, underground car parks and shelters in an attempt to escape from the bombs and rockets that are falling on both sides of the border," Dr Sentamu said in a statement.
"This act is a rallying call to people of all faiths and none, to encourage them to feel that there is something that can be done."
Dr Sentamu, who is second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams in the hierarchy of the Church of England, said he would lead prayers every hour for seven days for those affected by fighting between Israeli troops and Hizbullah guerrillas.
Last month Dr Williams - spiritual leader of 77 million Anglicans worldwide - said president George Bush and Tony Blair needed "to change their minds" over their refusal to call for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon.
Yesterday, Dr Sentamu chastised Mr Bush for saying the United States was "at war with Islamic fascists", saying such phrases would do nothing to build better community relations.
Dr Sentamu asked people to join him in a spirit of fasting next week by forgoing a meal and donating the money they save to charities working in the Middle East.