CAIRO - The cases of 40 US citizens, other foreigners and Egyptians embroiled in a dispute over the activities and funding of pro-democracy groups have been referred to court, judicial sources said, deepening a row with the United States. Washington has strongly criticised the crackdown on the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and an unspecified number of US citizens involved have sought shelter in the US embassy. Egypt, among the largest recipients of US aid since its 1979 peace treaty with Israel, has been told by US lawmakers assistance may be cut because of its treatment of the groups. Several US and others involved have been barred from leaving Egypt. They include Sam LaHood, the country director of the International Republican Institute who is the son of the US transportation secretary. "The cases of 40 foreign and Egyptian suspects have been transferred to the Cairo criminal court related to foreign funding," a judicial source told Reuters. State news agency MENA also carried the report.
