We know that President Amin would not want to harm a sick old woman Ilan Hartuv

A statement from the Uganda Ministry of Health claims former doctor, Mrs Bloch, left hospital to re-join the other hostages before the Israeli raid and after that Uganda ceased to have responsibility for her.

The UK Minister of State for the Foreign Office Ted Rowlands told the Commons that the Ugandan response was "totally unacceptable" and was a cause for "grave concern".

In Kampala, the Ugandan police told the British High Commission yesterday that a search had found nothing.

A formal complaint has been made to the Ugandan High Commissioner in London, Fredrick Isingoma.

The British High Commissioner to Kampala, Mr James Hennessey, is waiting for a flight at Heathrow after cutting short a holiday in Britain. He hopes to meet President Idi Amin in the next couple of days.

Mrs Bloch's son Ilan Hartuv - one of the rescued hostages - has spoken to the world's press from his home in Tel Aviv: "We know that President Amin would not want to harm a sick old woman. We are throwing ourselves on his mercy."

Dora Bloch, who lives in Tel Aviv, had been on her way to her youngest son's wedding in New York.

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