GV EXT Project site

GV INT Guests seated

CU Nasser portrait

CU Model of project

CU Nasser's two sons and two sons-in law seated, they greet Kuwaiti delegates (2 shots)

CU PAN Nimeiry, Gaddafi, and Sadat arrive and greeted

CU Priests seated

SCU Left to right, Nimeiry Sadat and Gaddafi jointly lay foundation stone (2 shots)
Initials JMR/MR/PS/1609 JMR/MR/MH/1607 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Three Arab Heads of State lay the foundation stone on Thursday ( 5 November ) for a Diabetes Research Institute and Hospital in Cairo named after the late President Nasser. They were President Sadat of the United Arab Republic, President Nimeiry of Sudan, and colonel Gaddafi of Libya.

The ceremony took place on the last of the 40 days of mourning for the Egyptian leader. The 40-day tradition stems from the time of the Pharaohs who believed the soul of the departed lingered over the body for this length of time before being released by prayers.

The three Arab leaders are holding summit talks in Cairo on the Middle East situation but took time off from them to honour the late President at emotional ceremonies on Thursday. President Sadat received condolence from Ministers, Ambassadors and the ordinary people of Egypt. A huge marquee in Cairo's Square of the Republic was filed by 20,000 mourners listening to recitals from the Koran and eulogies for the dead leader.

The Nasser Diabetes Research Institute and Hospital is to be built in North Cairo. It will cost GBP 7 million and occupy a 120,000 square metre ( 140,000 square yards ) site. Among those taking part in the ceremony were Colonel Nasser's two sons and two sons-in-law.