American tourists kidnapped in Egypt: Gunmen take two women hostage in Sinai. Blast hits gas pipeline between Egypt, Jordan, Israel. 2 kidnapped Americans released in Egypt, authorities say. From Mohamed Fadel Fahmy and Ivan Watson, CNN February 3, 2012 -- Updated 1618 GMT (0018 HKT) NEW: The two hostages have been freed, an official saysThe Americans had been kidnapped in the Sinai peninsula, authorities saidAnother group was abducted this week (CNN) -- Two American tourists who were kidnapped in the southern part of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula were freed Friday, a security official said.
They had been abducted by unknown Bedouins, said Gen. Mohamed Naguib, head of security in the region. The kidnappers had demanded that some detainees be released and retried, but it is unclear if these calls were met. Egypt to try 43 NGO workers, including 19 Americans, over funds. CAIRO (AP) — Ignoring a stern U.S. threat, Egypt on Sunday referred 43 NGO workers, including 19 Americans, to trial before a criminal court for allegedly using illegal foreign funds to foment unrest.
The decision marked a sharp escalation of the dispute between Cairo and Washington over Egypt‘s crackdown on U.S. -funded groups promoting democracy and human rights. The two countries have been close allies for more than three decades, but the campaign against the organizations has angered Washington and jeopardized the $1.5 billion in aid Egypt is set to receive from the U.S. this year. On Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton warned Egypt‘s foreign minister that failure to resolve the dispute may lead to the loss of American aid. “We are doing our best to contain this but … we cannot actually exercise any influence on the investigating judges right now when it comes to the investigation,” Mr. All 43 have been banned from leaving the country. The decision to move Mr. US seeks 'clarification' on Egypt activist trials. Egyptians cancel meetings with U.S. lawmakers after aid warnings.
Muslim Brotherhood Warns U.S. Aid Cut May Affect Egypt’s Peace Treaty With Israel. Egyptian students shout anti-military slogans during a protest at Cairo University on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012.
Egyptian authorities accuse U.S. and other foreign-funded non-governmental organizations of fomenting protests in the country. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen) (CNSNews.com) – A top Muslim Brotherhood official has warned that any cuts in U.S. aid to Egypt could affect Cairo’s peace treaty with Israel – the latest sign that Egypt’s emerging political forces intend to call Washington’s bluff over the diplomatic dispute triggered by a crackdown on non-governmental organizations . Egyptian judges have referred 16 Americans and 27 others linked to NGOs for trial, accusing them of using foreign funds to encourage disruptive protests. Among the targeted NGOs whose assets and funds have been seized are the U.S. government-funded International Republican Institute and National Democratic Institute.
Egyptians don’t want US aid. Highway bill stalled in Senate over Paul's Egypt amendment - The Hill's Floor Action. Republican firebrand Sen.
Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Tuesday suggested he plans to continue his delay of the Senate's business unless he is granted a vote on his amendment to strip Egypt of foreign aid for 30 days in retribution for the country's detention of 19 American pro-democracy workers. Several Democrats have blasted Paul, although not by name, in the last two-days, claiming his demand for a vote on the amendment is not germane and delaying a "jobs bill. " For example on Monday, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said such dilatory tactics were "beneath the United States Senate of America" without naming Paul specifically. Paul fired back from the floor on Tuesday, saying that the situation in Egypt requires the upper chamber's urgent attention. "I don't think this is too much to ask the Senate, to spend 10 minutes [voting]," Paul said. Key US Republican seeks 'punitive action' on Egypt. News from The Associated Press.
CAIRO (AP) -- A homemade bomb exploded near a traffic police post on a bridge over the Nile River in central Cairo early Tuesday, wounding two policemen and a civilian, security officials said.
Police sealed off the blast site on the al-Galaa bridge in the Dokki neighborhood, and a bomb disposal team combed the area to make sure there were no other explosive devices, the officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media. Egypt trial on U.S. democracy activists set for February 26. Scores killed in Egypt football violence - Middle East. At least 73 people have been killed in clashes after a football game in the northern Egyptian city of Port Said, medics say.
About 1,000 others were injured in Wednesday's violence, including police. At least two players suffered light injuries. Fans of the winning al-Masry team flooded the field seconds after the match with al-Ahly, Egypt's top team, was over. Egypt: Cairo rages as football disaster bodies come home. Clashes in Egypt as Mourners Unleash Fury Over Soccer Melee. Moises Saman for The New York Times Protesters removed barricades and barbed wire set up by security forces near the Ministry of Interior in Cairo on Thursday.
More Photos » In Suez, two protesters were wounded by birdshot and two others by live ammunition, the Health Ministry said, while in Cairo more than 600 were injured by tear gas and stampeding crowds. The fans, known as ultras, began their demonstration in the capital by directing their fury in part at the Port Said club’s supporters, who attacked a visiting Cairo club, Al Ahly, on Wednesday night. Egypt's Brotherhood says it should govern. Islamists in Egypt halt filming of TV series. Egyptian Christians to be forced to leave?
Text smaller Text bigger Analysts have begun warning that the recent increase in violent protests in Egypt is putting the nation’s millennia-old minority Christian community in great danger, and members may be forced to leave their homeland. “Tolerance is not a characteristic Islamists embrace,” said Michael Rubin, Middle East analyst for the American Enterprise Institute. “Just as Arab nationalists drove Jews out of Arab countries in the 20th century, Islamists will drive Christians out in the 21st. Alaa Al Aswany: Are They Really Religious? Last summer a friend of mine was driving his elderly mother from the north coast to Cairo and on the way his mother, a diabetic, suddenly felt ill.
He looked for a pharmacy and when he found one he went in and found a bearded pharmacist. My friend asked him if he would give his mother an insulin injection. Amazingly, the pharmacist answered, "Sorry, but I don't give injections to women because that's against sharia. Go find your mother a female doctor. " My friend tried his best to persuade the pharmacist, telling him they were in a remote area and it would be hard to find a female doctor, and that his mother, more than seventy years old, surely would not represent a sexual temptation to the pharmacist.
Street battles rage on outside Cairo Interior Ministry - EGYPT. Egyptians protest against a year of army rule. Deadly Egypt soccer riot leaves more than 70 dead. By Sarah El Deeb Andrew Barr/National PostViolence erupted at a stadium in Port Said, Egypt, killing more than 70 people at a soccer match.
At least 74 people were killed and 248 injured after soccer fans rushed the field in the seaside city of Port Said Wednesday following an upset victory by the home team over Egypt’s top club, setting off clashes and a stampede as riot police largely failed to intervene. It was a bloody reminder of the deteriorating security in the Arab world’s most populous country as instability continues nearly a year after former President Hosni Mubarak was swept out of power in a popular uprising. The melee – which followed an Egyptian league match between Al-Masry, the home team in the Mediterranean city, and Al-Ahly, based in Cairo and one of Egypt’s most popular team – was the worst case of soccer violence in Egypt and the deadliest worldwide since 1996.
One player said it was “like a war.” Egypt is not immune to soccer violence.