Quote:
Egyptian officials said [1] that they would lift a travel ban on
Seven Americans who had been caught up in the prosecution of U.S.-financed
Nonprofit groups in the country. The agreement to let them leave the country
Is meant to calm a crisis that had threatened to sever the three decade-long
U.S.-Egyptian alliance.
However, the deal does not resolve the charges brought against the nonprofit
Groups or end the prosecution of the approximately one dozen Egyptian
Employees who have also been brought to trial. The American defendants will
Also have to post up to $300,000 each in bail, defense lawyers said.
The decision to lift the travel ban follows weeks of intense diplomacy, as
U.S. officials attempted to avert a crisis that threatened to cut off the
$1.3 billion in annual aid to the Egyptian military. On Feb. 28, the judges
In the case abruptly recused themselves, saying that a more senior judge had
Asked them to reconsider the travel ban and, in doing so, had compromised
Their political independence. Their recusal, however, put the decision back
Into the hands of top judiciary officials, who lifted the ban.
It's a positive development ,but hardly an end to the crisis .
