US Must Deal With Egypt Carefully: Obama

Cutting off U.S. aid to Egypt may not change what it’s government does, but President Obama on Friday said the U.S. still must consider the message it would send if the nation continues to help a government creating such turmoil.

Obama told CNN Friday that the U.S. must be “very careful” about being seen as aiding and abetting actions that run contrary to the country’s values.

Hundreds of people have been killed in Egypt over the past two weeks. The violence began when security forces began cracking down on protests led by supporters of deposed president Mohammed Morsi, who was forcefully removed from office on July 3.

Obama administration officials have since been weighing whether to cut off more than $1 billion in annual aid to Egypt. Last month, the U.S. delayed the sale of four F-16 fighter jets to the Egyptian government, due to the overthrow.

The White House has so far refused to call Morsi’s ouster a coup, which would require the U.S. to cut aid to Egypt.

Source : Ahram