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| Egypt set for trial of foreign pro-democracy activists | Egypt set for trial of foreign pro-democracy activists |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The trial of 43 pro-democracy activists, including 19 Americans, is due to begin in Egypt. | The trial of 43 pro-democracy activists, including 19 Americans, is due to begin in Egypt. |
| They are accused of receiving illegal funding from foreign governments, including the US. | They are accused of receiving illegal funding from foreign governments, including the US. |
| The case has severely strained relations between Egypt and the United States, with threats that US aid could be cut. | The case has severely strained relations between Egypt and the United States, with threats that US aid could be cut. |
| The countries are holding talks to try to solve the case, a senior US official said on Saturday. | The countries are holding talks to try to solve the case, a senior US official said on Saturday. |
| "We are in intense discussions with the government of Egypt to try to resolve the situation with the NGOs within days," the official was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency. | "We are in intense discussions with the government of Egypt to try to resolve the situation with the NGOs within days," the official was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency. |
| A number of the Americans have taken refuge in the US embassy after being refused permission to leave Egypt. | A number of the Americans have taken refuge in the US embassy after being refused permission to leave Egypt. |
| Ruling council | Ruling council |
| The International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) - both loosely associated with the US Republican and Democratic parties - as well as Freedom House and the German Konrad-Adenauer Foundation were among 17 local and foreign NGOs whose offices were raided by prosecutors in late December. | |
| Human rights groups have strongly criticised the Egyptian investigation. They say the charges are part of an orchestrated campaign to silence groups critical of Egypt's ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf). | |
| The case has provoked loud protests from Washington, and even threats to cut off the $1.5bn (£1bn) of aid paid to Egypt each year. | The case has provoked loud protests from Washington, and even threats to cut off the $1.5bn (£1bn) of aid paid to Egypt each year. |
| But inside Egypt, the raids and arrests have won widespread popular support, relieving some of the pressure on the military council as it moves towards a handover of power to civilians in the coming months. | |
| Five Serbs, two Germans and three non-Egyptian Arab nationals are also said to be among those facing trial. | Five Serbs, two Germans and three non-Egyptian Arab nationals are also said to be among those facing trial. |
| One Egyptian minister has accused the organisations of trying to spread chaos in the country. | One Egyptian minister has accused the organisations of trying to spread chaos in the country. |
| Correspondents say that since the fall of President Mubarak, hundreds of Egyptian NGOs have also come under investigation from the government. |