BERLIN: German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle says he has summoned the Egyptian ambassador to protest Cairo’s move to prosecute members of human rights and pro-democracy groups, including at least two Germans.
Westerwelle told reporters Tuesday that he had "made our position clear" and vowed to do everything possible to help ensure the groups can operate freely in Egypt.
Two members of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, a think tank affiliated with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats, are among 43 people facing trial in Egypt.
Egyptian authorities accuse the groups of illegally operating in Egypt and receiving funds from abroad without permission.
Egypt’s military rulers have accused the groups of funding and promoting anti-government protests. The groups deny the charges.
