Details of Luxor massacre compensation deal announced

The Hatshepsut temple near Luxor was the site of the massacre in which 36 Swiss died Keystone

Seventy-eight relatives of the victims of the 1997 Luxor massacre are to receive SFr4.5 million from a special fund set up by tour operators and insurance companies. A total of 114 claims had been submitted.

Fifty-eight tourists, including 36 Swiss, were shot dead by Islamic extremists outside a temple in the Egyptian town of Luxor on November 17.

The Swiss justice ministry said on Friday the Luxor Commission had made a final ruling on eligibility for payouts based on the principles of liability. The money from the fund is supposed to help people who are not covered by insurances or by the law for the assistance of victims.

Thirty-six people, however, will not receive any of money from the Luxor-fund. In 34 cases, payments from the cantonal authorities had already been completed. The Commission rejected two applications because no direct damage could be traced.

The full sum of SFr4.5 million will not be paid out immediately as a residue of 15 per cent is being held back in order to create a reserve of SFr720, 000 for future claims which can be made by August 2001.

The payments should be completed by the end of next year.

swissinfo with agencies