Cairo seven flying home to America

A PLANE carrying seven American pro-democracy workers took off from Cairo yesterday, easing a crisis in relations over charges that their groups funded and promoted unrest in Egypt.

In the last step before the seven boarded the plane, the US government posted nearly $5 million (£3.2m) in bail for them and nine others who managed to leave Egypt before charges were formally filed.

The affair began in late December, when Egyptian police raided offices of ten pro-democracy and human rights groups. Workers, including 16 Americans, were then charged with using illegal funds and financing protests against the ruling military.

The groups and the US government denied the charges, and some US officials threatened to cut aid to Egypt over the affair.

Raids on the pro-democracy groups and charges against them came amid declarations by the ruling generals that the continuing unrest was sponsored by unnamed “foreign hands”.

The resolution of the case was been seen by many as a concession by the ruling military under US pressure, despite repeated statements by the generals that Egypt’s judiciary is independent.