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    February 26, 2012

Trial of Democracy Activists Opens in Egypt

   VOA News
   In this December 29, 2011, file photo, workers from one of the US
   non-governmental organizations, the National Democratic Institute, wait
   as Egyptian security officials raid their office in Cairo.
   Photo: AP
   In this December 29, 2011, file photo, workers from one of the US
   non-governmental organizations, the National Democratic Institute, wait
   as Egyptian security officials raid their office in Cairo.

   The trial of dozens of NGO workers, including 16 Americans, has opened
   in the Egyptian capital.
   The Americans are among 43 people who are accused of receiving illegal
   funds from abroad and carrying out political activities unrelated to
   their civil society work.
   Witnesses say at least 13 of the defendants appeared in court Sunday in
   Cairo, but it is unclear if any of the Americans were there. Some of
   the accused Americans have already left Egypt, and others still in the
   country have taken refuge at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo.
   The case has raised to a new level already high tensions between the
   United States and Egypt, and it comes as the U.S. is trying to
   establish better ties with the military council that took power last
   year following the ouster of former president Hosni Mubarak.
   U.S. officials say the Obama administration has been in "intense
   discussions" with Egypt to resolve the issue.
   Among the Americans accused is Sam LaHood, Egypt director of the
   International Republican Institute IRI and son of U.S. Transportation
   Secretary Ray LaHood.
   The remaining suspects include Germans, Palestinians, Jordanians and
   Egyptians.
   The United States has warned that going forward with the trial could
   prompt a cut to Cairo's $1.3 billion in annual U.S. military aid.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
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