US suspends military aid to Egypt

(Vatican Radio) The US state department has announced it will withhold military aid to Egypt until the country makes “credible progress toward an inclusive, democratically elected civilian government”. The decision follows a review launched last August, after hundreds of supporters of ousted President Morsi were killed in clashes with the military and police.

Listen to Sean Patrick Lovett's report:

“A spokesperson for the US state department announced yesterday that the country has suspended a large part of the 1.3 billion dollars it annually gives to Egypt’s military. This will put on hold the delivery of large-scale military systems including Apache helicopters, Harpoon missiles, and tank parts. It will also halt a 260 million dollar transfer, and a 300 million dollar loan guarantee.

The decision is not unexpected. Last month, US President Barack Obama criticised Egypt’s military-backed interim government for "decisions inconsistent with inclusive democracy", although the US has so far avoided calling the deposition of former President Morsi a coup. American deliveries of military hardware had already been halted, a military exercise cancelled, and cash aid had effectively been on hold since the summer.

Since the army ousted Mr Morsi last July, Egyptian security forces have clashed repeatedly with his supporters, leaving hundreds dead. In the latest clashes, more than 50 people were killed on Sunday in cities across Egypt. Mr Morsi has been detained at a secret location since he was deposed on the 3^rd of July. He is set to go on trial on the 4^th of November on charges of inciting murder and violence during clashes outside a presidential palace in Cairo last year.”