<p>Egypt went forward with a trial on Sunday that has plunged relations with the US into the deepest crisis in decades, prosecuting 16 Americans and 27 other employees of pro-democracy groups on charges they used foreign funds to foment unrest.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Behind the scenes, US and Egyptian officials were said to be in intense discussions in an attempt to resolve the case. <br /><br />Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has raised the matter twice in person with Egypt’s foreign minister — once in London and once in Tunisia — in recent days, according to a senior US official speaking on condition of anonymity.</p>
<p>Egypt went forward with a trial on Sunday that has plunged relations with the US into the deepest crisis in decades, prosecuting 16 Americans and 27 other employees of pro-democracy groups on charges they used foreign funds to foment unrest.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Behind the scenes, US and Egyptian officials were said to be in intense discussions in an attempt to resolve the case. <br /><br />Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has raised the matter twice in person with Egypt’s foreign minister — once in London and once in Tunisia — in recent days, according to a senior US official speaking on condition of anonymity.</p>