19 US pro-democracy activists on trial in Egypt by new governmen

 

 

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WASHINGTON - The United States must "re-evaluate" its ties with Egypt over Cairo's apparent plans to put dozens of pro-democracy activists, including 19 Americans, on trial, a senior U.S. senator said Monday.

 "This is not the way an ally should be treated. I believe that we should re-evaluate the status of our bilateral relationship during this transition period," Democratic Senator Ben Cardin said in a statement. 

Cardin, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said it was "totally unacceptable" for Egypt to prosecute the activists on charges of illegal funding of aid groups.

 "These organizations, which have supported Egyptian citizens' own struggle for representative democracy and freedom, have been targeted by those in the holdover regime who fear change," he said. 

The United States on Sunday demanded "clarification" from Egypt over its apparent plans, which threatened to further strain Washington's ties with Cairo's post-Arab Spring military rulers.

A judicial source in Cairo told AFP 44 people, including Egyptians, would be tried over alleged illegal funding of aid groups, a day after the United States said it would review aid to Egypt, $1.3 billion last year, over the crackdown.

State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland on Monday defended both the U.S.-based groups operating in Egypt and local organizations, saying they "play a very valuable role in the transition process and have done nothing wrong.