DATE=  10/30/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-221928

TITLE=EGYPT/TERROR (L)

BYLINE=DOUGLAS ROBERTS

DATELINE=CAIRO

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:



INTRO:  TWO EGYPTIAN BROTHERS HAVE BEEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR A

TERRORIST ATTACK IN CAIRO LAST MONTH THAT LEFT NINE GERMAN

TOURISTS AND THEIR EGYPTIAN BUS DRIVER DEAD.  DOUGLAS ROBERTS IN

CAIRO HAS DETAILS OF THURSDAY'S RULING BY AN EGYPTIAN MILITARY

TRIBUNAL.



TEXT:  THE TWO BROTHERS, SABR AND MAHMOUD ABU AL-ELAA, ADMITTED

THEY CARRIED OUT THE SEPTEMBER 18TH ATTACK, PLEADING GUILTY TO

CHARGES OF PREMEDITATED MURDER.  THEIR CONVICTION AND THE DEATH

SENTENCES WERE NEVER REALLY IN DOUBT.



IT WAS THE WORST TERRORIST INCIDENT IN CAIRO IN MORE THAN

18-MONTHS.



A GROUP OF GERMAN TOURISTS WERE BOARDING THEIR BUS OUTSIDE THE

EGYPTIAN MUSEUM IN THE HEART OF THE CITY WHEN THE TWO BROTHERS

ATTACKED, HURLING MOLOTOV COCKTAILS (FIRE BOMBS) BEFORE OPENING

FIRE WITH AUTOMATIC WEAPONS.



SECURITY FORCES CAPTURED THE PAIR AFTER A 30-MINUTE GUN BATTLE

THAT CAUSED PANDEMONIUM IN CAIRO'S BUSIEST SQUARE.  SEVEN OTHER

EGYPTIANS WERE ARRESTED LATER, AND CHARGED WITH COMPLICITY IN THE

ATTACK.  SIX OF THEM WERE FOUND GUILTY THURSDAY AND GIVEN PRISON

SENTENCES RANGING FROM ONE TO 10 YEARS.  THE SEVENTH MAN WAS

ACQUITTED.



EGYPTIAN OFFICIALS HAVE CONSISTENTLY DENIED THE ELAA BROTHERS

WERE LINKED TO ANY OF THE ISLAMIST EXTREMIST GROUPS THAT HAVE

BEEN WAGING A LOW-LEVEL INSURGENCY HERE FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS.



BUT IN COURT TESTIMONY, THE ACCUSED MADE CLEAR THEIR SYMPATHY FOR

THE INSURGENTS.  THE BANNED "ISLAMIC GROUPING" ISSUED A

COMMUNIQUE PRAISING THE ATTACK, AND WARNING TOURISTS TO STAY AWAY

FROM EGYPT.



FOR SABR ABU AL-ELAA, IT WAS THE SECOND CONVICTION FOR A

TERRORIST OFFENSE.  IN 1993 HE WAS FOUND GUILTY OF INVOLVEMENT IN

THE MURDER OF A U-S CITIZEN AND TWO FRENCHMEN AT A CAIRO HOTEL.

THE COURT RULED THEN HE WAS MENTALLY DERANGED, AND ORDERED HIM

CONFINED IN AN ASYLUM.  BUT IT HAS SINCE BEEN REVEALED MR. ELAA

OR A MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY BRIBED A COURT PSYCHIATRIST TO CERTIFY

HIS CONDITION SO HE COULD AVOID THE DEATH PENALTY.



EGYPTIAN OFFICIALS SAY MR. ELAA ESCAPED FROM THE ASYLUM JUST DAYS

BEFORE THE SEPTEMBER 18TH ATTACK.   (SIGNED)



NEB/DBR/PCF/RAE



30-Oct-97 8:21 AM EST (1321 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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