U.S. Embassy Shelters American NGO Workers

Earlier today, the U.S. Embassy in Egypt confirmed that it was sheltering a “handful” of American citizens who were barred from leaving Egypt last week. The unidentified Americans are employees of U.S.-funded nongovernmental organizations raided by Egyptian police late last year on suspicion of using “illegal” foreign funds to destabilize Egypt. Last week, at least five American NGO workers were barred  from leaving the country pending the investigation into the NGOs’ activities. Now some officials fear the workers may be arrested if they remain. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said the U.S. was concerned and disappointed, and urged Egypt to lift the travel ban “immediately.” A source within Egypt’s ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) said it rejected foreign intervention into its judicial affairs. Writing for the Council on Foreign Relations, Elliot Abrams argues that the SCAF “should have been given a deadline for resolving this problem when it arose on December 29th.” Abrams calls for aid to Egypt to be frozen until the travel ban is lifted, and aid “should not be resumed until the materials taken from [the NGOs'] offices are returned.”

Also in Egypt, the ruling military council announced the rules for Egypt’s first post-revolution presidential elections. Candidates will officially begin campaigning in April, with voting to take place at the end of June. The SCAF has come under increasing pressure from pro-democracy activists to leave power earlier than the current June deadline, and today a military spokesman said that the SCAF met with its civilian Advisory Council to explore ways to accelerate the transition to civilian rule. The spokesman said one option might be to hold presidential elections earlier than June.