President Obama said today (August 15, 2013) that his government "strongly condemns" the violence in Egypt that has claimed over 500 lives, and he is canceling U.S.-Egyptian military exercises that had been scheduled for next month, the USA Today website reports.
Speaking from his vacation home on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, Obama did not suspend any other form of aid to Egypt; he said continued U.S. "engagement" with the military government in Cairo will help it transition back to democracy.
"But while we want to sustain our relationship with Egypt, our traditional cooperation cannot continue as usual when civilians are being killed in the streets and rights are being rolled back," Obama said.
The president did not describe the military's removal of President Mohammed Morsi last month as "a coup" -- a declaration that would require ending U.S. aid to Egypt that adds up to about $1.3 billion a year.
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