US cancels joint biannual training exercise with Egypt

In a special statement, President Barack Obama Thursday strongly condemned the steps taken by the Egyptians government, demanded the lifting of the state of emergency and called for the right to peaceful protest. He said that US military assistance would continue – although under review. Traditional cooperation between the US and Egypt could not continue when people were being killed in the streets, he said. Therefore, he was cancelling the biannual joint training exercise due to take place next month.