Egypt blasts Ban over case of rights groups

Egypt has blasted UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for calling for a fair trial for two prominent rights activists accused of illegally receiving foreign funds for their NGOs.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmad Abu Zeid said yesterday that comments by Ban are an attempt to intimidate Egypt’s judiciary and meddle in its affairs. A spokesman for Ban said on Tuesday that the two activists — Gamal Eid and Hossam Bahgat — should “benefit from all due process and fair trial standards”.