Obama Cancels Military Drills with Egypt

Local Editor

US President Barack Obama spoke out on Thursday against the violence in Egypt, saying the United States had canceled joint military exercises scheduled for next month.

"The United States strongly condemns the steps that have been taken by Egypt's interim government and security forces," Obama said from his vacation home on the Massachusetts island of Martha's Vineyard.

He further said: "We deplore violence against civilians. We support universal rights essential to human dignity, including the right to peaceful protest."

It was the Obama's first statement on the rapidly deteriorating situation in Egypt, where spiraling violence prompted the government there to declare a nationwide state of emergency and a nighttime curfew.

"America cannot determine the future of Egypt," Obama said. "That's a task for the Egyptian people. We don't take sides with any particular party or political figure."

In parallel, he mentioned: "We appreciate the complexity of the situation. While Mohammed Mursi was elected president in a democratic election, his government was not inclusive and did not respect the views of all Egyptians."
The US president said Egypt would have "false starts" in its efforts to embrace democracy and recalled America's own "mighty struggles to perfect our union."

A US official told Reuters that Washington was considering cancelling a major joint military exercise with Egypt, due this year, after the latest violence, in what would be a direct snub to the Egyptian armed forces.
The "Bright Star" exercise has been a cornerstone of US-Egyptian military relations and began in 1981 after the so-called "peace" accords between Egypt and the Zionist entity. The United States has already halted delivery of four F-16 warplanes in a signal of its displeasure.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team