Israeli Embassy staff in Uganda this week continued to go about their duties normally as relations between Uganda and Israel become more strained.

Uganda's President Amin says he has received information which indicates that Israelis in Uganda have been engaged in anti-Government activities.

If these reports prove correct, President Amin says he'll close the Israeli Embassy.

The Israeli Ambassador to Uganda, Mr. David Laor, has assured the President that his fears are groundless.

Mr. Laor says Israel respects Uganda's policy of non-alignment and has no desire to interfere in the internal affairs of Uganda.

(A 12-man Israeli trade mission left Uganda on Friday--March 3rd--at the end of a six-day visit without apparently making any official contacts with government departments. Official news media in Uganda didn't report the presence of the Israeli trade mission in the country--and local newspapers also ignored the visit.)
SYNOPSIS: Newspapers in Kampala have recorded a steady worsening in relations between Uganda and Israel. This follows reports received by President Amin which suggest that Israelis are engaged in anti-government activities in Uganda. President Amin says he'll close the Israeli Embassy if the reports prove to be correct.

Baumann House in Kampala is the home of the Israeli Embassy--and from Israeli Ambassador Laor came reassuring words for the President. The ambassador says President Amin's fears are groundless. He says Israel respects Uganda's policy of non-alignment and has no desire to interfere in the Internal affairs of Uganda. The statement from the Israeli Embassy adds that Israeli instructors helping the Uganda Air Force will continue their duties as long as the Uganda Government wants them to.