Egypt has announced it will go ahead with a trial of foreign democracy activists, including 19 Americans, in connection with an investigation into illegal funding of foreign non-governmental organizations.

The state news agency MENA said the hearing for the 43 defendants will take place on February 26.

The American defendants have been banned from leaving Egypt and some have taken refuge in the U.S. Embassy in Cairo. Among those accused is Sam LaHood, Egypt director of the International Republican Institute and son of the U.S. transportation secretary Ray LaHood.

The IRI was one of several offices raided on December 29, along with the U.S. based National Democratic Institute and human rights group Freedom House.

The trial date was announced Saturday as the U.S. is attempting to establish better ties with the military council that took power last year following the ousting of former president Hosni Mubarak.

Washington supports the American defendants, warning that going forward with the trial could prompt a cut to Cairo's $1.3 billion in annual U.S. military aid.

Egyptian officials, however, say the investigation uncovered a large amount of evidence of illegal funding from the United States, Europe and Arab countries.