E/CN.4/1998/38 page 6 8. This chapter contains, on a country-by-country basis, summaries of the general allegations transmitted by letter to Governments and the latter’s replies, as well as a numerical breakdown of the individual cases and urgent appeals transmitted by the Special Rapporteur and the replies received from Governments. Information about follow-up action to reports and recommendations made after previous years’ visits to countries are also included. Finally, observations by the Special Rapporteur have also been included where applicable. Information about individual cases transmitted and replies received are contained in addendum 1 to this report. Afghanistan 9. The Special Rapporteur sent two urgent appeals, one in conjunction with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan concerning the application of amputation as a form of punishment, and the other on behalf of one individual in conjunction with the Special Rapporteurs on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan and on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. Observations 10. In the light of the information contained in the interim report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan (A/42/493) and in the addendum to the present report (E/CN.4/1998/38/Add.1, paras. 1-2), the Special Rapporteur is concerned at the incidence of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, in particular extreme forms of corporal punishment often specifically inflicted on women determined to have been involved in offences of a moral nature. Albania 11. The Special Rapporteur transmitted to the Government one urgent appeal on behalf of persons arrested during demonstrations and received one reply from the Government. Algeria 12. By letter of 17 November 1997, the Special Rapporteur informed the Government that he had received reports that torture and ill-treatment occurred frequently during periods of incommunicado detention in police and gendarmerie stations, military security centres and secret detention centres. Incommunicado or garde à vue detention could reportedly be extended to 12 days, since the issuance of decree No. 92-03 of 30 September 1992. 13. The main purpose of torture and ill-treatment was said to be the extraction of information and the signing of confessions in the form of written statements (procès verbaux) during interrogation, but it was also said to have been used as a form of punishment. The information received suggested that persons suspected of having links with armed opposition groups were particularly vulnerable to torture. 14. Torture methods most commonly used by the security forces were said to include: “chiffon”, whereby a detainee is tied to a bench and a cloth is