Egypt hits at US over 'sham trial'

Egypt said yesterday it would resist an American threat to place a freeze on increases in future economic aid over the imprisonment of a human rights activist.

"Egypt does not accept pressure and will not bow to pressure and everyone knows that," the foreign minister, Ahmed Maher, said.

The Washington Post reported yesterday that the Bush administration would oppose giving any new aid to Egypt to protest against the imprisonment of Saadeddin Ibrahim, convicted in July after a retrial on charges including defaming Egypt. Human rights activists in Egypt and abroad condemned the trial procedure as a "sham".

The US move is seen by diplomats in the region as part of a new initiative to encourage democracy in the moderate Arab world.

It would be in line with Washington's calls for more democracy within Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Authority and its efforts to force a "regime change" in Iraq.

Washington, while throwing its weight behind calls for more human rights in developing states in Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and South America, has often been reluctant over several decades to involve itself in the struggle for democracy and human rights in North Africa and the Middle East where economic interests prevail.

Human rights groups have said the Ibrahim verdict is another government blow aimed at undermining Egypt's fragile civil society. But the government has defended what it calls the independence of its judiciary.

Mr Maher described the American threat as an attempt to meddle in Egypt's internal affairs. He said all states should respect the Egyptian judicial system and its rulings "as we respect their justice systems".