U.S. senators in Cairo want swift end to NGO case
By Patrick Werr
CAIRO Feb 20 (Reuters) - U.S. senators said in Cairo on Monday they hoped for a swift end to a row over U.S. pro-democracy activists accused of working illegally in Egypt and said they were committed to help Egypt nurture its democratic institutions and rebuild its economy.
Senator John McCain, leading the delegation, said Field Marshall Mohamed Hussein Tantawi assured them Egypt was working to solve the dispute that triggered a crisis between Washington and Cairo, threatening $1.3 billion in annual U.S. military aid.
Tantawi heads the military council that took control when U.S. ally Hosni Mubarak was ousted in a popular uprising last year. U.S. officials have previously cited Tantawi's assurances that the case was being resolved only for the row to deepen.
At least 43 activists, including 19 Americans, have been banned from leaving Egypt, where a court said it would start a trial on Feb. 26 for those involved in the case that includes both U.S. and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
"The way we approach this issue of the NGOs is with some guarded optimism that we will resolve this issue very soon," McCain told a news conference with four other senators, adding their visit was planned before the NGO case erupted in December.
Among those accused is Sam LaHood, Egypt director of the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the son of the U.S. transportation secretary. Some of the Americans involved have taken refuge in the U.S. embassy.
Egypt says the case is a judicial matter and all NGOs, regardless of origin, must heed Egyptian law. Charges include accepting foreign funds without Egyptian government approval.
"We met with Field Marshall Tantawi. He gave us his assurance that they are working very diligently to try to resolve the NGO issue," McCain said.
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