At least seven people have been killed in clashes in Cairo and Suez since last week’s football violence [EPA]
The US has demanded “clarification” over Cairo’s apparent plans to put dozens of pro-democracy activists, including 19 US citizens, on trial over charges of illegal funding of aid groups.
Victoria Nuland, the US state department spokeswoman, said on Monday that Washington was “deeply concerned” over the developments, which threatened to further strain the country’s ties with Egypt’s military rulers.
“We have seen media reports that judicial officials in Egypt intend to forward a number of cases involving US-funded NGOs to the Cairo criminal court,” Nuland said.
“We are deeply concerned by these reports and are seeking clarification from the government of Egypt.”
A top official at Freedom House, one of the groups targeted, called Egypt’s handling of the matter “a disaster”.
A judicial source in Cairo, the capital, told the AFP news agency that 44 people, including Egyptians, would be tried over the alleged illegal funding of aid groups, a day after the US said it would review $1.3bn aid to Egypt over the crackdown.
The offices of Freedom House and the International Republican Institute
Read More from the Article Source: Full Article
