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Western Pro-Democracy Activists Flown Out of Egypt

March 01, 2012

Pro-democracy activists from the U.S and other places have departed Egypt aboard a U.S. government plane following a court's decision to lift a travel ban on them.

Egypt's official MENA news agency reported that 15 foreigners left, the majority of whom were Americans.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said others on the plane are from Serbia, Norway, Germany, and the Palestinian Territories.

She said the bail payments for the individuals, reported to total some $5 million, were made by their NGO employers.

In December, Egyptian security raided the offices of 10 pro-democracy and human rights groups, charging workers with using illegal funds and financing protests against the ruling military.

Nuland said Washington remains "deeply concerned" about the prosecution of civil society groups in the country.

With reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/western_pro_democracy_activists_flown_out_of_egypt/24501896.html

Copyright (c) 2012. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.