US poured millions in pro-democracy groups in Egypt, Wikileaks
The United States has funnelled tens of millions of euros into pro-democracy movements in Egypt, diplomatic cables obtained by WikiLeaks reveal, just as Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak faces unprecedented protests against his regime.
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The United States Agency for International Development (USaid) planned to allocate close to over 100 million euros to pro-democracy movement in Egypt in 2008 and 2009, according to leaked cables on WikiLeaks.
"President Mubarak is deeply sceptical of the US role in democracy promotion," reads an embassy cable dated 9 October, 2007.
"Nonetheless, [US government] programs are helping to establish democratic institutions and strengthen individual voices for change in Egypt," that cable adds.
According to the Norwegian daily Aftenposten, which obtained the cables, the United States has contributed to strengthening the forces that were demanding that Mubarak go on Friday.
"Our fundamental reform goal in Egypt remains democratic transformation, including the expansion of political freedom and democratic pluralism, respect for human rights, and a stable, democratic and legitimate transition to the post-Mubarak era," reads one cable dates 10 September 2007.
The US-funded traning for political candidates, with an emphasis on women, training for bloggers and assistance to human rights lawyers, the cable adds.
One cable also says the money spent by the US for democracy promotion was aimed both at programmes run by the Egyptian regime itself and by Egyptian and US NGOs working in the field.
While US President Barack Obama declared that "violence is not the answer" in Egypt's current upheaveals, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has drawn fire for saying that the Mubarak regime "stable".
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