Egypt: NGO workers can leave the country

GlobalPost

BEIRUT, Lebanon — Egypt rescinded a travel ban on American NGO workers accused of using foreign money to foment political unrest, according to a judicial source quoted by Reuters. "The assistant to the attorney general, following a request from the investigating judges, has issued an order to lift the ban," the source said.

Sixteen Americans were charged, but only seven remained in the country. Twenty-seven others were also charged, according to the Associated Press.

On Thursday, Egyptian officials said the US posted nearly $5 million in bail to win the release of the sixteen, at a price of $300,000 each. The seven still remaining in the country were transported to Cairo airport in a convoy of white vans, said the AP.

The reversal comes the same day that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she expected the controversy would be solved "in the very near future."

More from GlobalPost: McCain, US senators meet with Egyptians on nation's future, accused NGO workers

The judges in the trial of the NGO workers recused themselves earlier today, according to GlobalPost, citing "uneasiness." The trial had been adjourned until April 26.

The Americans were accused of conducting political activities without government authorization, but the charges and detention frayed already strained US-Egypt relations. Members of Congress indicated that the future of Egypt's annual $1.3 billion in American aid was at jeopardy as a result of the trials. One of the workers who sought refuge in the American embassy in Cairo was Sam LaHood, the son of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

More from GlobalPost: Egypt: Trial takes NGO worker by surprise

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