1.
GV Crowds
0.06

2.
LV Gallows
0.10

3.
SV Bodies hanging from gallows
0.18

4.
CV Bodies hanging (2 shots)
0.26

5.
GV Crowds
0.29

6.
SV Bodies put into coffin and carried to truck
0.45

7.
GV Crowds
0.48

8.
GV Truck drives off
0.54

9.
GV Empty gallows
0.57



Initials JEC/V/CR/ES JEC/V/CR/SGM



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: A LEBANESE PROTESTANT MINISTER AND TWO SYRIANS WERE PUBLICLY EXECUTED BY HANGING IN DAMASCUS ON EASTER MONDAY JUST EIGHT HOURS AFTER BEING SENTENCED BY A COURT MARTIAL. THE MINISTER, JAMIL EL-KARK, WAS FOUND GUILTY OF OPERATING AN ESPIONAGE GROUP FOR ISRAEL UNDER THE COVER OF A CHURCH MISSION; THE TWO SYRIANS WERE SAID TO HIS LIEUTENANTS.

THE EXECUTION TOOK PLACE AT DAWN IN AL-MERJEH SQUARE AND THE BODIES WERE LEFT ON DISPLAY UNTIL MID-MORNING. EACH BODY WAS DRAPED IN SACKING ON WHICH WAS STITCHED THE TEXT OF THE COURT'S VERDICT.

THE COURT MARTIAL WAS TOLD BY THE PROSECUTOR THAT THE SPY-RING HAD OPERATED FROM 1954 UNTIL 1961; INFORMATION HAD BEEN TRANSMITTED TO ISRAEL ON RADIO SETS CONCEALED INSIDE HOLY STATUES AND ELECTRIC FANS; AND THAT SECRET INFORMATION - WRITTEN IN INVISIBLE INK - HAD BEEN SENT TO ISRAEL HIDDEN IN PARCELS OF FOOD.