186. Having taken note of the report and recommendations of its working group, the Committee, at its tenth session (19-30 April 1993), decided to undertake a confidential inquiry in accordance with article 20, paragraph 2, of the Convention and rule 78 of its rules of procedure, and designated Messrs. Dipanda Mouelle and Sorensen for that purpose. Mr. Ben Ammar had informed the Committee that he was unable to participate in the inquiry. The decision was transmitted to the Government of Egypt on 27 April 1993. 187. Messrs. Dipanda Mouelle and Sorensen submitted a progress report to the Committee at its eleventh session (8-19 November 1993). In preparing the report, they took into account information furnished by the Government of Egypt in reply to a list of issues they had submitted to the Egyptian authorities, at the latter’s request, at the end of August 1993; information received from three non-governmental organizations during the period May-October 1993; as well as the views of an Egyptian human rights expert designated by the Government, who had met with Messrs. Dipanda Mouelle and Sorensen in the beginning of November 1993. 188. By its decision of 18 November 1993, the Committee requested the Government of Egypt to agree to a visit to Egypt of the Committee members making the inquiry, to take place not later than 15 March 1994. The Committee also informed the Government of Egypt that the purpose of the visit was not to accuse the State party, which was making a sincere effort to comply with its obligations under the Convention, but to ascertain in close cooperation with the Government whether or not torture was systematically practised, particularly by members of the security forces. The Government was invited to respond to the request for a visit by 31 December 1993. 189. On 15 December 1993, the Government was provided, at its request, with a copy of the progress report and conclusions and recommendations prepared by the two Committee members making the inquiry. 190. In its response, dated 31 December 1993, the Government stated that it was entirely ready to engage the Committee in requisite consultations and a dialogue, with a view to agreeing on a framework within which the visit could take place. 191. Without prejudice to any further decision of the Committee, Messrs. Dipanda Mouelle and Sorensen found it appropriate to draw the attention of the Government of Egypt to the general principles earlier established by the Committee that guide the missions of members of the Committee designated to undertake an inquiry in accordance with article 20 of the Convention. They also made a number of proposals concerning the visit to Egypt, which could constitute the main elements of its framework. Those proposals and the general principles were transmitted to the Government on 28 January 1994. 192. Messrs. Dipanda Mouelle and Sorensen submitted a second progress report (covering the period November 1993-March 1994) to the Committee at its twelfth session, held from 18 to 28 April 1994. The Committee endorsed their proposals concerning the framework of the visit to Egypt and discussed the matter with the accredited representative of the Government of Egypt at a closed meeting on 28 April 1994. The Committee once again requested the Government of Egypt to agree to a visit to take place not later than 17 September 1994. 193. The Committee invited the Government to reply to its request by 17 June 1994 and stated that should no reply or a negative reply have been -31-