Peter Davies, Director General at WSPA said, "WSPA has received shocking first hand accounts from our member societies in Egypt, of the cruel and inhumane treatment of pigs there. Our supporters will be shocked by the graphic footage of this brutal operation now available on the internet."

Distressing video footage has appeared on YouTube highlighting the cruel and inhumane methods involved in the cull, including pigs being hit with iron bars, kicked and burned alive with chemicals. Viewer discretion is strongly advised.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has stated that culling is an inappropriate reaction to the outbreak of 'swine flu', as there is no known link between the flu and pigs. A statement on the OIE website clarifies this further, advising member countries in no uncertain terms 'that the culling of pigs will not help to guard against public or animal health risks.'

"The World Society for the Protection of Animals strongly urges Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif to stop the inhumane cull of pigs. We want the Prime Minister to bring Egyptian animal welfare legislation in line with the OIE guidelines on transport and slaughter agreed in 2005," said Mr Davies.

Irrespective of the government’s justification for the cull, WSPA is asking the Prime Minister to ensure that any pigs which are killed are done so quickly and humanely using the international standards that Egypt has already agreed upon.