Swift justice likely for Arab gunmen

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32777, 30 November 1971, Page 1

Swift justice likely for Arab gunmen

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

CAIRO, November 29,

With relations between Arab countries again under strain, swift and unmerciful justice is expected to be meted out to the assassins of the Prime Minister of Jordan (Mr Wasfi Tell), who was shot in Cairo by Palestinian extremists.

President Anwar Sadat, of Egypt, has promised King Hussein, of Jordan, that four men arrested after the shooting yesterday at the Sheraton Hotel, in Cairo, will be tried justly, “and the guilty will be punished.”

Three of the men hold Syrian passports and the fourth has been identified as a Palestinian. Execution by hanging is thought likely if they are found guilty. They are Monzer Soliman Khalifa, aged 28, Gawad Kahlil Bagh-

dady, aged 25, Ezzat Ahmed Rabah, aged 27, and Ziad Mahmoud Badran, aged 26. Five wounds All four, say police officials, admitted taking part in the shooting, and said they were members of the “Black September” Palestinian organisation which bitterly opposed the Jordanian Government’s action against Arab guerrillas in its country. Mr Tell, aged 51, was shot at point-blank range in daylight as he stepped into the foyer of the hotel after attending a luncheon given by Mr Abdel Khalek Hassouna, the Secretary-General of the lArab League. He received

five bullet wounds, and he died about 15 minutes later in the hotel foyer. He was in Cairo to attend meetings of the Arab League’s Defence Council, which was planning joint action against Israel. Dying, Mr Tell told hotel staff: “They have killed me, the murderers. They believe only in fire and destruction.” ‘Planned in Beirut' The police said that Khalifa admitted the assassination was planned in Beirut about two weeks ago, and that the four men, armed with revolvers, had entered Egypt in pairs on different occasions. Bystanders seized two of the assassins as they fled from the hotel. The police picked up the others later; one of them was in a flat near the hotel. After eulogies at the Arab League meeting last night, Mr Tell’s body was flown to Amman. President Sadat cabled his condolences to King Hussein, and an official spokesman described the murder as an outrage. Minister wounded The police said the assailants told them they had hidden a bomb near the hotel, which was removed. The Jordanian Foreign Minister (Mr Abdallah Saleh) and an Egyptian police officer were wounded in the shooting. Although Mr Tell was a controversial figure in Egypt, where many circles found his hard-line attitude to the Palestinian guerrillas unacceptable, his assassination shocked the Government. Relations between Cairo and Amman have been strained recently because of the Palestine issue, in which Egypt and Saudi Arabia are trying to mediate a settlement. Blow to unity But Mr Tell’s murder will be seen as yet another strong blow to hopes of Arab unity at a time of crisis. The Defence Council was meeting to solve differences and unify the Arabs against Israel. President Sadat has called 1971 a decisive year, when the chances of peace or war in the Middle East will be determined.

He has publicly said that Egypt is determined to go into battle when the time is ripe. Mr Tell’s assassination will help to emphasise the bitter divisions in the Arab ranks.