Egypt denies trying to stifle human rights movement

Egypt's government on Sunday denied accusations from human rights groups that it was trying to smother some of the ruling military council's most vocal opponents when it raided the offices of 17 non-governmental organisations last week.

Angered by the swoops, Washington called on Egyptian authorities to halt "harassment" of staff of the groups involved, which included the US-funded National Democratic Institute and International Republican Institute. (Reuters)