‘Egypt junta forming banana republic’

“Some countries are independent but some others have a banana republic, a fake and unrealistic republic,” said ElBaradei, in reference to the country’s military rulers.

ElBaradei, who was the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency from 1997 to 2009, added that interference in the judicial system will ruin democracy and freedom, and highlighted the need for accountability.

A total of 43 foreign and Egyptian activists, including the son of the US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, have been accused of receiving illegal funds and running unlicensed NGOs in Egypt.

On Wednesday, the Egyptian government allowed the Americans in the case to leave the Arab country on a bail of 32 million pounds. The 16 Americans departed Cairo in a US government plane on Thursday.

The decision has outraged Egyptians across the political spectrum, who say the ruling generals put immense pressure on the judges to lift the travel ban.

The judges hearing the case resigned earlier this week.

Earlier, US authorities had threatened to cut a USD 1.5-billion annual aid to Egypt if the issue was not ‘resolved.’

Many Egyptians suspect that the US is instigating the recent unrest in the country, by funding civil society groups in Egypt.

MSH/MA/HJL

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