US students may be stuck in Egyptian jail
for several days despite release order
CAIRO -- Three American students held in Cairo for allegedly throwing Molotov cocktails at security forces may not be able to leave the police station for several days, even though their release has been ordered by an Egyptian court.
"The Public Prosecutor's office issued the order of release for AUC [American University Cairo] students Luke Gates, Greg Porter and Derrik Sweeney," the AUC said in a statement Friday. "The students are now waiting at the Kasr El Aini police station for the necessary clearances to be released."
The university said that staff members visited the students in custody and found them to be well.
In a statement issued Thursday, Luke Gates' parents said that the trio's release may not be immediate. "This has been a difficult situation, and while we are disappointed that [Luke] will be held a few days longer to complete administrative procedures related to his release, we're confident he will be home soon," Bill and Sharon Gates said.
Gates, 21, Sweeney, 19, and Porter, 19, were arrested Monday night near Tahrir Square. They were seen in Egyptian state TV footage lined up against a wall by a table with several ID cards, including an Indiana driver's license.
The students were all on a study abroad program.
