Nazif: We fully cooperate with Human Rights Council

Egypt's Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif said the government is fully cooperating with the National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) and will respond to all complaints presented via the council.

Nazif underscored the importance of strengthening relations with the NCHR and studying its initiatives and remarks seriously.

The cabinet spokesman, Magdi Radi, said the cabinet approved a memorandum including the government's response to the first report by the NCHR for 2004-2005.

He said Minister of Shura Council Affairs Mufeed Shehab prepared the response in cooperation with the ministerial group for political and legislative affairs under Kamal el-Shazli, the Minister of People's Assembly affairs.

Radi said the ministers, in their response to the report, praised the NCHR role in urging quarters concerned to respect human rights in Egypt.

He said the response memorandum hailed the government's achievements in the field of supporting human rights, including the abolition of hard labor, the state security courts and most of the military orders which were part of the state of emergency. The government's response to the report indicated that the government would not be lenient towards any human rights violations by the authorities concerned and would investigate any misconduct and take the necessary measures in torture cases and try those responsible for torture before disciplinary and criminal courts.