Ban Seeks Probe into Egypt Prisoner Deaths
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary General, called for a "full investigation" into the deaths of 37 prisoners in police custody in Egypt.
Martin Nesirky, Ban’s spokesman, said the UN chief was "deeply disturbed by the reported deaths" of the prisoners as they were being transferred to a different facility in Cairo, Aljazeera reported.
"He calls for a full investigation to ascertain the facts surrounding this incident," Nesirky said.
Authorities said 37 detainees died after police fired tear gas in a bid to free an officer taken hostage by prisoners, as the inmates were being transferred to Abu Zaabal prison near Cairo.
But the Anti-Coup Alliance, which includes the Muslim Brotherhood, held the police accountable, accusing them of "murder".
The Alliance has demanded a formal investigation into the deaths in disputed circumstances on Sunday.
Photos provided by the lawyers representing the detainees show dead bodies with charred faces and limbs and others covered in bruises which the lawyers said were signs of torture.
On Monday, Egypt's public prosecutor ordered the deposed president, Mohamed Mursi, to be detained for 15 days over allegations he participated in "violent acts" last December. The 15-day order will begin at the end of a 30-day order issued on Thursday related to allegations of collusion with foreign groups and spying.
Almost 900 people, including nearly 100 soldiers and police, have died in Egypt since the authorities on Wednesday began to forcibly break up Muslim Brotherhood sit-ins by supporters of Mursi who was toppled in a July 3 military coup.
