EGYPT - June 13 - Egyptian Cleared Of Spying Charge.

A state security court acquits an Egyptian defendant Sherif Filali of spying for Israel and collecting military information and data on Egyptian tourism and the southern Toshka agricultural development plan, ending a trial that raised strong nationalist passions. Another defendant, Grigory Gifens, Russian national, charged with gathering military and economic information for Mossad and recruiting Filali in Spain, is found guilty in absentia and given a life sentence at hard labour. (Israel denies any involvement in the case. Russian Embassy officials were not available for comment).