E/CN.4/1997/7 page 18 Côte d'Ivoire 66. The Special Rapporteur transmitted nine individual cases to the Government. Cuba 67. The Special Rapporteur transmitted nine individual cases to the Government, as well as a number of cases already transmitted in 1995 on which he had received no replies. He also sent one urgent appeal on behalf of one person. The Government replied to one urgent appeal sent in 1995 together with the Special Rapporteurs on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and on the situation of human rights in Cuba, on behalf of three persons. Observations 68. The Special Rapporteur notes with satisfaction that he has only infrequently received allegations of physical torture or ill-treatment of persons held for interrogation. However, over the years he has continued to receive persistent allegations of brutality, often resulting in injury, to persons held in prisons where conditions are reportedly extremely harsh. In this connection, he draws attention to and associates himself with the recommendation of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cuba, that the Government should “ensure greater transparency and guarantees in the prison system, so as to prevent, to the extent possible, excessive violence and physical and psychological suffering from being inflicted on prisoners. In this connection, it would be a major achievement to renew the agreement with the International Committee of the Red Cross and to allow non-governmental humanitarian organizations access to prisons” (A/51/460, annex, para. 44 (k)). Cyprus 69. The Special Rapporteur transmitted to the Government one individual case. Ecuador 70. The Special Rapporteur transmitted to the Government five individual cases. The Government replied to two cases transmitted by the Special Rapporteur in 1995. Egypt 71. By letter dated 22 July 1996 the Special Rapporteur advised the Government that he had received information according to which inmates at Fayyom prison had frequently been subjected to torture or ill-treatment as a means of discipline or punishment. Upon arriving at the prison, new inmates were said to undergo a “reception party”, whereby they were forced to kneel down and move for 10 metres between two rows of guards who beat and kicked them as they moved. With the exception of a four-day period in April 1996, lawyers and relatives had reportedly been banned from visiting prisoners.