E/CN.4/1997/7 page 19 72. The Special Rapporteur also transmitted 11 individual cases and 1 urgent appeal on behalf of 5 persons. The Government replied to 150 cases transmitted in previous years. Observations 73. The Special Rapporteur acknowledges the great effort undertaken by the Government to assemble information on a large number of cases, which must have involved a substantial deployment of resources. While appreciating this effort, as well as the difficulties posed by the serious incidence of politically motivated violence in the country, the Special Rapporteur is compelled to note how long investigations of allegations generally take and the rarity of such investigations concluding in prosecutions, especially where the Security Services Investigation is concerned. In this connection, he finds notable the conclusion of the Committee against Torture, after its inquiry pursuant to article 20 of the Convention against Torture “that torture is systematically practised by the security forces in Egypt, in particular by State Security Intelligence, since in spite of the denials of the Government, the allegations of torture submitted by reliable non-governmental organizations consistently indicate that reported cases of torture are seen to be habitual, widespread and deliberate in at least a considerable part of the country” (A/51/44, para. 220). He also underlines the Committee's recommendations (paras. 221-222). El Salvador 74. The Special Rapporteur transmitted three individual cases to the Government. Equatorial Guinea 75. By letter dated 12 July 1996 the Special Rapporteur informed the Government that he had received information according to which torture and ill-treatment were frequently inflicted on detainees, including those arrested for political reasons. The report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Equatorial Guinea referred extensively to this problem (E/CN.4/1996/67, paras. 27-31). By the same letter the Special Rapporteur transmitted to the Government 13 individual cases. He also sent to the Government two urgent appeals on behalf of two persons. Observations 76. The Special Rapporteur is concerned by the allegations he has received which are consistent with information in the hands of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Equatorial Guinea and he endorses the latter’s recommendations (paras. 78 and 79 of E/CN.4/1996/67). Ethiopia 77. The Special Rapporteur transmitted to the Government 4 urgent appeals on behalf of 18 persons. The Government replied to one of the appeals concerning one person.