AI INDEX: MDE/12/23/96 News Service 155/96
29 AUGUST 1996 -- FOR RESPONSE ONLY

 EGYPT: MORE CIVILIANS DELIBERATELY KILLED IN UPPER EGYPT

 Amnesty International condemns the latest killings of civilians in Upper Egypt and calls on armed opposition groups to stop such murders immediately. A number of those targeted were Christian Copts.

    Since 27 July, gunmen, alleged to be members of al-Gama'a al-Islamiya (Islamic group), have killed at least 12 people. Among the victims were an elderly man, Mahmoud 'Abd al-Hakim 'Abd al-Nasser, a 68-year-old retired rural guard, and his two sons Mur'i, a 38-year-old teacher, and Redha, a 33-year-old farmer, who were shot dead on 22 August, in the village of Nawai near Mallawi in Minya governorate. As well, two brothers, Hanna Morris Ayub, 35, and Ayub Morris Ayub, 25, were killed in their fields in the village of Qalandul, also in Minya governorate.

     Some of those killed including both Christians and Muslims, were reportedly suspected of passing on information about the activities of alleged members of al-Gama'a al-Islamiya to the security forces.

     "Egyptian armed groups should put an end to killings of civilians. Leaders of al-Gama'a al-Islamiya should clearly condemn these practices which violate the right of life," Amnesty International said.