Egypt security forces storm NGO offices

Activists say Egyptian soldiers and police have stormed non-governmental organization offices throughout the country, banning employees inside from leaving while they interrogate them and search through computer files.    
They said at least 18 offices have been targeted.         

U.S.-based organizations and local Egyptian rights groups that receive foreign funding are among the NGOs being searched.       

The head of the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information, Gamal Eid, says an employee trapped inside one of the NGOs called him to say security forces are removing laptop computers.      

An official with the Egyptian Attorney General's office says at least one of the U.S.-based organizations was operating without proper permits. The official spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday because he was not authorized to release the information.

According to Egyptian daily Al-Ahram, the five NGOs were the Arab Center for Independence of the Judiciary ‎and the Legal Profession (ACIJLP); the Budgetary and Human ‎Rights Observatory; and the Washington-based National ‎Democratic Institute, the International Republican Institute and ‎Freedom House.‎

     
AP | LBCI