Egypt postpones NGOs' trial to April 10

CAIRO - Egypt's South Cairo Criminal Court decided Thursday to postpone the trial of 43 non-governmental organizations (NGO) workers over illegal funding to April 10, state TV reported.

The trial headed by presiding judge Makram Awad began at 11:30 pm (0930 GMT), but adjourned five minutes later due to altercation between lawyers and the judge as the former deemed the case as an espionage case.

About 15 Egyptian defendants appeared in the trial, as more than 25 foreign defendants flew out from Cairo airport last Thursday, which has raised intensive outcry among Egyptian lawmakers.

Egypt's state newspaper al-Ahram reported that US defendant Robert Frederic attended the trial as he refused to flee to the United States because he trusted the Egyptian Judiciary.

Judge Awad asked the prosecution to take necessary procedures to detect the fugitive defendants and bring them back to stand trial. One of the civil plaintiffs demanded trying those who took the decision of lifting the travel ban on the 43 workers of NGOs.

Egypt's North Criminal Court started the trial of 43 workers on February 26, but three judges who were dealing with the trial pulled out of the case on February 28, which led to the transfer of the case to South Cairo Criminal Court.

International Republican Institute (IRI) and National Democratic Institute (NDI) are among those accused of operating in Egypt without work permits and receiving foreign funds illegally.