US stops joint military drill

Washington (PTI) Warning that Egypt had entered a "more dangerous path", President Barack Obama cancelled US military exercises with the Arab country to protest the killing of hundreds of protesters in the bloodiest crackdown on supporters of ousted Islamist President Mohammed Mursi. Obama, however, did not speak anything on the USD 1.3 billion annual military aid to Egypt.

In his first public statement on the crisis, he said the US will cancel its joint military exercise planned for next month because of the rising violence in Egypt. The Bright Star military exercise has been a centerpiece of the countries' military relations for decades. "While we want to sustain our relationship with Egypt, our traditional cooperation cannot continue as usual," he said.