Egyptian positions on the West Bank of the Suez Canal initiated the exchange of fire with Israelis on the east bank Wednesday morning, according to an official report today from Lt. Gen. Odd, Bull, chief of UN cease-fire observers. Gen. Bull said the Egyptians started the shooting after threatening to fire because an Israeli soldier was swimming in the canal. At the time the Egyptians started firing, Gen. Bull reported, two Israelis were swimming in the canal but when the shooting started, they “left the water and remained on the canal bank.” Israel returned the Egyptian fire but later the Egyptians and Israelis agreed to stop shooting. Gen Bull reported that the UN observers said that at least 10 explosions were observed near the UN observation post on the East Bank of the canal.
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