WASHINGTON--President Bush told the crowd at the White House National Day of Prayer observance that the Lord "is not on the side of any nation, yet we know he is on the side of justice," according to a report by Baptist Press.

"It is the deepest strength of America that from the hour of our founding we have chosen justice as our goal," the President said.

"Our greatest failures as a nation have come when we lost sight of that goal: In slavery, in segregation, and in every wrong that has denied the value and dignity of life," Bush said. "Our finest moments have come when we have faithfully served the cause of justice for our own citizens and for the people of other lands. And through our nation's history, we have turned to prayer for wisdom to know the good and for the courage to do the good."

The president gave a nine-minute address and called for Americans to align their hearts with God's will and to pray for "God's protection for the men and women fighting overseas, their families and for those who have lost loved ones."

Bush's comments came a day after he condemned the abuses of Iraqi prisoners by American soldiers, calling those acts "abhorrent" and saying "justice will be delivered."

He seemed to refer to the situation in Iraq during his prayer address as well. "We cannot be neutral in the face of injustice or cruelty or evil," Bush said.

In addition to the White House observance, National Day of Prayer events were held on Capitol Hill, as well as in state capitols, county and city government buildings, parks, schools and church buildings. According to Shirley Dobson, task force chairperson for the day, about 50,000 such events were held.

Lt. Col. Oliver North USMC (Ret). delivered the keynote address for the prayer day event on Capitol Hill. According to Baptist Press, North focused on the examples of American soldiers in Iraq. Attorney General John Ashcroft, and Rep. Charles Stenholm, D.-Texas, also spoke. New Senate Chaplain Barry Black led in prayer for the country.

During the four-hour session, participants prayed for members of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the federal government, as well as the armed forces and corporate America.

Also speaking at the White House ceremony were Dobson and Rabbi Hersh Weinreb. Daniel Coughlin, House chaplain, and Chaplain Black prayed.