Shelling Across Suez Canal

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31480, 21 September 1967, Page 13

Shelling Across Suez Canal

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright?

BEIRUT, September 20.

Five Egyptian civilians were wounded when Israeli forces on the east bank of the Suez Canal opened artillery fire this morning on Suez and Port Tewfik, Cairo Radio, quoting a military spokesman, said.

The Associated Press reported an earlier incident from Tel Aviv. It said Israelis opened fire on six Egyptian boats loaded with soldiers sailing in the southern end of the Suez Canal today, sinking two of them, an Army spokesman announced.

The Egyptian attempt was in distinct violation of a United Nations agreement by both sides to refrain from using the canal, the Israeli spokesman said.

The incident ocurred near Port Tewfik, and the Israelis holding the eastern bank of the canal immediately opened fire, the spokesman said. Two boats were hit and reportedly sunk.

N.Z.P.A.-Reuter, reporting the second incident, quoted the Egyptian spokesman as saying the Israelis began shelling both towns at 7.24 a m. Shelling stopped 18 minutes later, after the United Arab Republic informed United Nations observers of the incident.

“There were no casualties hit and part of the power among our forces but five station in the town was civilians in Suez were destroyed. wounded and taken to hospi- The spokesman did not say tai,” the spokesman added, whether Egyptian forces reTwo houses in Suez were turned the fire.