Abstract: Disclosed is an engine having a swirl control valve in the intake port. When the engine is operating under a partial load, a lean air-fuel mixture is fed into the engine cylinders, and the swirl control valve is closed in order to create a swirl motion in the combustion chamber. When the throttle valve is fully open, a rich air-fuel mixture is fed into the engine cylinders, and the swirl control valve is closed. In addition, the ignition timing is retarded. After this, when the throttle valve is slightly closed, the swirl control valve is maintained at the open position, and the air-fuel mixture of an approximately stoichiometric air-fuel ratio is fed into the engine cylinders. At the same time, the ignition timing is slightly advanced.