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GV & SV General Mokhtar and interpreter and Brig. Sheriff seated at table (2 shots) (MUTE)
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SCU Newsmen (MUTE)
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SCU ZOOM IN Mokhtar speaking in Arabic with following English translation.
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"We can prove actually with irrefutable evidence and without the least shadow of doubt that the Egyptians who were made prisoners of war by Israeli military authorities and the civilians -- both the old and the children -- throughout the military operation and after the ceasefire, that all those were very badly treated and in a very grave manner, and that these ways in which they were treated are absolutely incompatible with humans treatment."




Initials BB/1625 JT/DW/BB/1633



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The chief military spokesman, General Ezzedin Mokhtar, said in Cairo on Monday (December 10) that Israel had tortured prisoners of war and civilians both during the recent Arab-Israeli War and after the ceasefire. He dismissed the Israeli Government's accusation of torture as a political manoeuvre to soak up popular anger at their war losses.

General Mokhtar accused Israel of 'very great violations' of the Geneva conventions on prisoners of war. He spoke of prisoners being starved, beaten and made to wash in sewage. Brigadier Adli Sheriff told pressmen that a protest had been lodged with the International Committee of the Red Cross and that a full report would be sent to them soon.

U.S. Secretary of State Dr. Henry Kissinger is due to arrive in Cairo on Thursday to discuss arrangements for the Arab-Israeli peace talks due to open in Geneva on December 18th. Meanwhile there were reports of an increasing number of ceasefire violations.

Speaking through an interpreter, General Mokhtar said there could be no doubt the tortures had taken place.