25/07/2013 11:50
US to halt F-16 supplies to Egypt due to 'current situation'
US President Barack Obama has taken a personal decision to suspend the delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Egypt, claiming it is no longer “appropriate” following the toppling of Mohamed Morsi’s government, Russia Today reported.
"Given the current situation in Egypt, we do not believe it is appropriate to move forward at this time with the delivery of F-16s," Pentagon spokesman George Little said in a statement.
Little said that Obama had been unanimously supported by his security team.
Four fighter jets were to be delivered to Egypt this week as part of the $1.3 billion military assistance package for the country.
The fate of further military aid to Egypt has not been decided, but a law passed last year forbids the US from helping any country whose government was installed by a coup. The administration has so far gone to some lengths to avoid officially labeling the overthrow of Morsi as a military coup.
Former senior Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Morsi, narrowly elected in Egypt’s first democratic vote last year, was forced to resign at the beginning at the month, following mass protests and an intervention by the army.