Post date: Jul 08, 2013 8:43:26 PM
The Obama administration is concerned about the increased violence in Egypt and has not yet made up its mind as to whether or not to label the Egyptian military's ouster of President Morsi a coup. The decision will have a direct impact on the $1.3 billion in military aid and $250 million in economic aid to Egypt.
WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (JULY 8, 2013) (NBC) - The United States remains concerned about the increasing violence and political polarization in Egypt, and has called on the transitional authority in Egyptto avoid reprisals, arrests and restrictions on the media, White House spokesmanJay Carney said on Monday (July 8).
"We strongly condemn any violence as well as any incitement to violence," said Carney. "We call on the military to use maximum restraint responding to protesters just as we urge all those demonstrating to do so peacefully. We also condemn the explicit calls to violence made by the Muslim Brotherhood."Carney also stated that it is the administration's belief that it is not in the best interests of the United States to immediately change its aid program to Egypt, where President Mohamed Mursi was removed from office by the military last week.
The U.S. government is not yet prepared to label the Egyptian military's overthrow of the government as a coup, a decision that would determine whether U.S. aid to the country would continue, Carney said.
"This is a complex situation and it is not in our interest to move unnecessarily quickly in making a determination like that because we need to be mindful of our objective here which is to assist the Egyptian people in their transition to democracy and to remain faithful to our national security interests," Carney stated.
"I think it would not be in the best interest of the United States to immediately change our assistance programs to Egypt."
The United States is due to provide $1.3 billion in military aid and $250 million in economic aid to Egypt this year, almost all of which would be stopped if the administration formally deemed Mursi's ouster a coup.
So far this year, two-thirds of the military aid has been disbursed, but very little, if any, of the economic aid has made its way to Cairo.
At least 51 people were killed in Cairo on Monday when the Egyptian army opened fire on supporters of Mursi in the deadliest incident since the elected Islamist leader was toppled by the military five days ago.