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GV Israeli flag flying TILT DOWN TO UN cars past oil storage tanks.
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GV UN Commander Siilvasuo walking towards table.
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GV Representatives sitting down at table for handover watched by newsmen and oil workers. (2 shots)
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GV Delegates shaking hands.
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GV Representatives leaving in UN cars.
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GV Pipelines valve wheels and damaged storage tank.
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GV Israeli flag being lowered at ceremony.
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GV Israeli army vehicles including tank carriers leaving camp. (3 shots)
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ISRAELI FLAG FLYING AND UN CARS DRIVING PAST OIL STORAGE TANKS: UN COMMANDER SIILVASUO WALKING TOWARDS TABLE WATCHED BY NEWSMEN AND OIL WORKERS: OIL WORKERS AND DELEGATES SHAKING HANDS: REPRESENTATIVES LEAVING IN UN CARS: PIPELINE VALVE WHEELS AND DAMAGED STORAGE TANKS: ISRAELI FLAG BEING LOWERED: ISRAELI ARMY VEHICLES INCLUDING TANK CARRIERS LEAVING.




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Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The Abu Rudeis oil fields, which Israel captured in the 1967 war, were returned to Egyptian control on Monday (1 December). Israeli forces had withdrawn from the area in the southern Sinai the day before (Sunday) in accordance with last September's interim peace agreement between the two countries.

During Sunday's withdrawal, the Israeli flag was hauled down in an emotional ceremony as the United Nations Commander in the Middle East, General Ensio Siilasvuo, took over the oil fields before returning them to Egypt the following day.

Transport aircraft and convoys of trucks, some carrying tanks, evacuated the Abu Rudeis base at the edge of the Sinai mountains at noon, ending the eight year-old Israeli presence there. A bugler sounded a last salute, the troops paraded, and an Air Force transport plane flew overhead dipping its wings as the Israeli soldiers and oilmen moved out.

For the past eight years the oil fields have been Israel's major local source of oil. Under the interim settlement, which came into effect in October, a long strip of land along the Suez Gulf is also returned to Egypt.

SYNOPSIS: The Israeli troops withdrew from the Abu Rudeis oil fields in the southern Sinai desert on Sunday. The United Nations Commander in the Middle East, General Ensio Siilasvuo, formerly received the oil fields on behalf of the United Nations. He was to return them to Egypt the next day in accordance with last September's interim peace settlement which was negotiate between the two countries.

During an emotional ceremony, a bugler sounded the last salute, the troops paraded and an Air Force transport plane flew overhead dipping its wings as the Israeli soldiers and oilmen moved out. It was the end of an Israeli presence on the oil fields that had lasted eight years.

The Israelis had captured the fields during the nineteen sixty-seven war, and since then they had been Israel's major local source of oil. With the oil fields returned, Egypt is now expected to become once more a net exporter of oil.

Under the interim settlement, which came into effect in October, a long strip of land along the Suez Gulf is also returned to Egypt. Egypt repossessed the smaller Ras Sudr oil fields earlier last month in accordance with the agreement, which also provides for Israel's withdrawal from the strategic Giddi and Mitla passes in Sinai.