Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit said the case of the killing of Egyptian prisoners of war (POWs) tops the priorities of the government to retain the rights of the Egyptian soldiers.

In a speech before the People's Assembly Arab and Foreign Affairs Committee, Abul-Gheit made it clear that peace with any country did not mean disregarding the rights of Egyptian POWs.

Abul-Gheit categorically rejected receiving any reparations by Israel for Egyptian captives killed during the 1967 War.

Abul-Gheit denied he had earlier said that Egypt would not cut off diplomatic ties with Israel because of the Shaked Spirit film depicting Israeli soldiers killing Egyptian captives in Sinai in 1967.

Abul-Gheit noted that the timing of airing the documentary targeted Egyptian national unity.

The film was also meant to remind Israeli soldiers of former successes after their thumping defeat in Lebanon, said Abul-Gheit.

He noted that he prepared a report in this regard that would shake Israel when published.

He pledged to offer all needed help for Egyptian families to sue Israeli forces for killing their kins who were prisoners of war. He noted that if the International Committee of the Red Cross provided Egypt with documents and information incriminating Israel, Egypt could resort to the international tribunal.

Receiving a copy of the Shaked Spirit film, specialists at the Egyptian Foreign Ministry and the People's Assembly analysed the tape, Abul-Gheit said.

Abul-Gheit noted that he had watched the film himself and found provocative scenes showing Israeli forces killing Egyptian troops while withdrawing from Sinai in 1967 in a barbaric way.

He added that this had prompted him to send a strong-worded letter to his Israeli counterpart Livni and another letter to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) urging it to provide Egypt with all documents and information in this regard.

According to Egyptian legal experts with whom Abul-Gheit had met, the Third Geneva Convention was the optimal legal framework for Egypt to restore the rights of its killed captives, said the foreign minister.