Egyptian police crack down on pro-democracy groups

Egyptian prosecutors and police have raided offices of 17 pro-democracy and human rights groups – including several funded by the United States – in what rights defenders described as a campaign against them by the military rulers.

The official MENA news agency said the groups had been targeted as part of an investigation into foreign funding of such organisations.

Rights groups, a driving force behind the protests that toppled president Hosni Mubarak in February, have become increasingly vocal in criticising the army’s heavy-handed tactics in dealing with street unrest and demanding a quicker handover of power to civilians.

Among groups targeted were the local offices of the US-based International Republican Institute and National Democratic Institute, said a security source and employees at the organisations.

Other groups that were raided included US-based Freedom House and local groups set up to defend judicial independence, individual freedoms and democracy, according to the Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights.

“This looks like a campaign against human rights defenders,” said Egyptian rights activist Negad al-Borai. He said similar campaigns happened during Mubarak’s three-decade rule.

“For this to happen after what we call the ‘revolution’, I am astonished,” added Mr Borai.

Egypt’s military, which itself accepts $1.3 billion (£843 million) a year in US aid, has said it will not tolerate foreign interference in the country’s affairs.