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- Dec 17, 2009
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Trial is adjourned after Americans fail to appear in Cairo court - CNN.com
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Cairo (CNN) -- The trial of international aid workers -- including 16 Americans -- accused of fraud in Egypt got a brief start Sunday as intense behind-the-scenes diplomatic discussions simmered over the case.
Out of the 43 defendants facing fraud charges, only 14 non-American workers showed up to court for a trial unfolding in the wake of the revolution that ousted former President Hosni Mubarak, and increasingly shaky relations with the United States.
"None of the foreigners have been served documents to appear in court or received anything in writing. As far as I know, none of the foreigners are appearing in court today," said Les Campbell, regional director of the National Democratic Institute.
Earlier, the Egyptian general prosecutor's office said a failure to appear could result in a maximum, mandatory sentence of five years and possible additional charges, a spokesman for the Egyptian general prosecutor's office said.
"We have a problem. ...We have a problem with a lot of our friends around the world."
Ya think?