Egyptians angry with military over US NGO case

Egypt's ruling generals are facing a backlash over the departure of Americans on trial over charges that their pro-democracy groups fomented unrest, with the country's powerful Muslim Brotherhood and others accusing military leaders of bowing to pressure from Washington.     

Six of the Americans left Egypt on Thursday, after a travel ban against them was lifted, easing a heated diplomatic dispute over the case between longtime allies Cairo and Washington.

The moves to prosecute the Americans have sparked U.S. warnings of cuts in the more than $1 billion in aid given to Egypt every year.     

Their departure came after days of intense behind-the-scenes negotiations between U.S. and Egyptian officials trying to resolve the worst crisis between the two countries in decades.     

But it raised an outcry at home against the military, which took power in Egypt after the ouster a year ago of President Hosni Mubarak.     

The Muslim Brotherhood, which controls nearly half of seats in parliament and has emerged as the strongest political group since Mubarak's fall, said Friday there was "clear interference" in Egypt's domestic affairs and in the work of the judiciary.     

The Brotherhood's spokesman, Mahmoud Ghozlan, said that he believes the United States pressured Egypt's ruling military council to ensure the Americans return home before the case is concluded and the judicial process runs its course.     

"The former regime was subservient to the United States. Until now the military council cannot understand that there was a revolution and continues the same policies of answering to Washington," Ghozlan told The Associated Press.     

The dispute is rooted in a crackdown by Egyptian officials on pro-democracy and human rights groups, including four U.S.-based ones. In December, Egyptian security raided offices a number of the groups, including four American ones  the International Republican Institute, the National Democratic Institute, Freedom House and a group that trains journalists. Officials said the groups were suspected of accepting foreign funds to stir up unrest.     

Sixteen Americans from the groups, along with 27 others  including Egyptian, Palestinian, German, Norwegian and Serb nationals  were charged in the case and put on trial.

Activists denounced the move as part of a wider government crackdown against those critical of the military's rule. Nine of the Americans, who had not been put under a travel ban, had already left the country. The rest were allowed to leave Thursday after the U.S. posted almost $5 million in bail. Of the seven Americans who had been barred from travel, one stayed behind voluntarily.     

In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said the United States was "very pleased" with the decision by Egyptian courts to lift the travel ban on the seven U.S. citizens.     

"Our goal going forward is to continue to work with the Egyptian authorities to try to have these charges dismissed, not only for our people and the other internationals but also for the Egyptians who have been charged," Nuland told reporters Friday.