Egypt’s airport authorities have been told that a travel ban on US pro-democracy activists has been lifted, airport sources said on March 1, opening the way to defuse a row that US officials linked to $1.3 billion of annual military aid. A judge had said on Feb. 29 that Egypt was scrapping the ban, which barred the departure of US citizens and others working for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that Cairo says received foreign funds illegally. Judge Abdel Moez Ibrahim told state media that, after an appeal by those charged, the case was switched from a criminal court to one handling misdemeanours where the maximum penalty was a fine, not jail. With that, those involved could post bail of 2 million Egyptian pounds ($330,000) each and the travel ban would be lifted.
Officials had earlier said the ban had been lifted only from the Americans involved. The latest comments suggest the travel ban could also be lifted from Egyptians, Serbs, Norwegians and Germans involved in the case once they post bail.