Obama On Egypt Crisis: 'We Deplore Violence Against Civilians'
President Barack Obama spoke out on the crisis in Egypt
on Thursday, saying he's "concerned" by recent events.
"The
United States strongly condemns the steps that have been taken by Egypt's
interim government and security forces," Obama said. "We deplore violence
against civilians."
"Today, the United States extends its condolences to the families
of those who were killed and those who were wounded," Obama
continued."
Obama
announced that the U.S. is cancelling a bi-annual joint military exercise with
Egypt that was to take place in September, but he did not announce suspension of
any other forms of aid to Egypt. The president said “national security interests
in this part of the world and the belief that our engagement can support a
transition back to democracy” influenced his decision to keep up U.S. aid to
Egypt that adds up to about $1.3 billion a year.
"The
Egyptian people deserve better than what we've seen over the last several days,"
Obama said.
Obama
spoke to reporters from Martha's Vineyard, the Massachusetts island where he is
on a weeklong vacation.
Click here for
more on the clash in Egypt.
Below,
more from the AP on Obama's remarks:
CHILMARK, Mass. — President Barack Obama has scrapped joint
U.S.-Egypt military exercises scheduled for next month, saying American
cooperation with the Egyptian government cannot continue when civilians are
being killed in the streets. He directed his national security team to see what
additional steps the U.S. might take going forward.
It was
Obama's first statement on the rapidly deteriorating situation in Egypt, where
spiraling violence has left more than 500 people dead in clashes between the
military-backed interim government and supporters of ousted President Mohammed
Morsi.The violence prompted the Egyptian government to declare a nationwide
state of emergency and a nighttime curfew.
Obama
spoke from Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts, where he is on
vacation.
The
Bright Star military exercise has been a centerpiece of the two countries'
military relations for decades.
This
story has been updated with more information from the AP.
Also
on HuffPost:
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An
opponent of Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi shouts slogans during a
protest in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, July 3, 2013. A Defense
Ministry official said army chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi is meeting with his
top commanders, hours before the military's deadline to the president and
opposition to resolve the nation's political crisis is set to expire. Arabic
read " leave." (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
Opponents of Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi slaughter
lambs as symbols of Morsi and Muslim Brotherhood leaders during a protest in
Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, July 3, 2013. (AP Photo/Amr
Nabil)
Opponents of Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi hold Arabic
signs reading "leave," as fire rages at the Muslim Brotherhood headquarters in
Alexandria, Friday, June 28, 2013. (AP Photo/Heba Khamis)
An
opponent of Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi chants slogans during a
protest outside the presidential palace, in Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, July 3,
2013. The deadline on the military's ultimatum to President Mohammed Morsi has
expired, with 48 hours passing since the time it was issued. Giant cheering
crowds of Morsi's opponents have been gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square and
other locations nationwide, waving flags furiously in expection that the
military will act to remove the Islamist president after the deadline ends. (AP
Photo/Khalil Hamra)
An
opponent of Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi chants slogans during a
protest outside the presidential palace, in Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, July 3,
2013. The deadline on the military's ultimatum to President Mohammed Morsi has
expired, with 48 hours passing since the time it was issued. Giant cheering
crowds of Morsi's opponents have been gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square and
other locations nationwide, waving flags furiously in expection that the
military will act to remove the Islamist president after the deadline ends. (AP
Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Egyptian protesters calling for the ouster of President Mohamed
Morsi react as they watch his speech on a screen in a street leading to
presidential palace early in Cairo on July 3, 2013. Morsi told Egyptians that he
had been freely elected little more than a year ago and that he intended to
continue to carry out his duties despite mass protests demanding his
resignation. (MAHMUD KHALED/AFP/Getty Images)
Hundreds of Egyptian protesters begin to gather in Tahrir Square as
the deadline given by the military to Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi
approaches on July 3, 2013 in Cairo, Egypt. The president gave a defiant speech
last night and vowed to stay in power despite the military threats. As unrest
spreads throughout the country, at least 23 people were killed in Cairo on
Tuesday and over 200 others were injured. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty
Images)
Holding a picture of the second President of Egypt Gamal Abdel
Nasser Hussein, hundreds of Egyptian protesters begin to gather in Tahrir Square
as the deadline given by the military to Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi
approaches on July 3, 2013 in Cairo, Egypt. The president gave a defiant speech
last night and vowed to stay in power despite the military threats. As unrest
spreads throughout the country, at least 23 people were killed in Cairo on
Tuesday and over 200 others were injured. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty
Images)
Thousands of Egyptian protesters begin to gather in Tahrir Square
as the deadline given by the military to Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi
approaches on July 3, 2013 in Cairo, Egypt. The president gave a defiant speech
last night and vowed to stay in power despite the military threats. As unrest
spreads throughout the country, at least 23 people were killed in Cairo on
Tuesday and over 200 others were injured. It has been reported that the military
has taken over state television. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty
Images)
Thousands of Egyptian protesters begin to gather in Tahrir Square
as the deadline given by the military to Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi
approaches on July 3, 2013 in Cairo, Egypt. The president gave a defiant speech
last night and vowed to stay in power despite the military threats. As unrest
spreads throughout the country, at least 23 people were killed in Cairo on
Tuesday and over 200 others were injured. It has been reported that the military
has taken over state television. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty
Images)
Thousands of Egyptian protesters begin to gather in Tahrir Square
as the deadline given by the military to Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi
approaches on July 3, 2013 in Cairo, Egypt. The president gave a defiant speech
last night and vowed to stay in power despite the military threats. As unrest
spreads throughout the country, at least 23 people were killed in Cairo on
Tuesday and over 200 others were injured. It has been reported that the military
has taken over state television. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty
Images)
Egyptian protesters calling for the ouster of President Mohamed
Morsi gather in Cairo's landmark Tahrir Square on July 2, 2013 as laser lights
(L) directed at the government building spell 'Game Over.' (KHALED
DESOUKI/AFP/Getty Images)
Opposition protesters shout slogans as they gather in thousands at
qoubba Presidential Palace to protest against Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi
and the Muslim Brotherhood on July 2, 2013 in Cairo. Egypt's political crisis
deepened as Islamist President Mohamed Morsi snubbed an army ultimatum
threatening to intervene if he did not meet the demands of the people, and five
ministers led a spate of government resignations. (GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty
Images)
Egyptian supporters of President Mohamed Morsi gather in Rabaa
el-Aadawia district of cairo on July 2, 2013, as opponents of Egypt's president
also poured onto the streets of Cairo to press their demand that he step down
after the Islamist president snubbed an ultimatum from the army to agree to the
'people's demands' or face an imposed solution. (KHALED KAMEL/AFP/Getty
Images)
Egyptian opposition protester shout slogans as tens of thousands
gather outside the Presidential Palace calling for the ouster of Egyptian
President Mohammed Morsi on July 2, 2013 in Cairo. Opponents of Egypt's Mohamed
Morsi poured onto the streets of Cairo to press their demand that he step down
after the Islamist president snubbed an ultimatum from the army to agree to the
'people's demands' or face an imposed solution. (GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty
Images)
Egyptian protesters calling for the ouster of President Mohamed
Morsi gather in Cairo's landmark Tahrir Square on July 2, 2013. Opponents of
Egypt's Mohamed Morsi poured onto the streets of Cairo to press their demand
that he step down after the Islamist president snubbed an ultimatum from the
army to agree to the 'people's demands' or face an imposed solution. (KHALED
DESOUKI/AFP/Getty Images)
An
Egyptian opposition protester holds up the head of a sheep as tens of thousands
gather outside the Presidential Palace calling for the ouster of Egyptian
President Mohammed Morsi on July 2, 2013 in Cairo. Opponents of Egypt's Mohamed
Morsi poured onto the streets of Cairo to press their demand that he step down
after the Islamist president snubbed an ultimatum from the army to agree to the
'people's demands' or face an imposed solution. (GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty
Images)
An
Egyptian youth with his face painted in the colours of the national flag look
over as opponents of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi protest calling for his
ouster at Cairo's landmark Tahrir Square, on July 2, 2013. Egypt's political
crisis deepened as Islamist President Mohamed Morsi snubbed an army ultimatum
threatening to intervene if he did not meet the demands of the people, and five
ministers led a spate of government resignations. (KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty
Images)
An
Egyptian opposition demonstrator sits at the top of a column watching a military
helicopter fly by, as protesters (unseen) call for the ouster of President
Mohamed Morsi outside the presidential palace in Cairo, on July 2, 2013. Egypt's
political crisis deepened as Islamist President Morsi snubbed an army ultimatum
threatening to intervene if he did not meet the demands of the people, and five
ministers led a spate of government resignations. (MAHMUD KHALED/AFP/Getty
Images)
An
Egyptian boy waves a national flag during a protest against Islamist President
Mohammed Morsi in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, July 2, 2013. With a
military deadline for intervention ticking down, protesters seeking the ouster
of Egypt's Islamist president sought Tuesday to push the embattled leader
further toward the edge with another massive display of people power. (AP
Photo/Amr Nabil)
Opponent of Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi hold a large
Egyptian national flag during a protest outside the presidential palace, in
Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, July 2, 2013. Egypt was on edge Tuesday following a
"last-chance" ultimatum the military issued to Mohammed Morsi, giving the
president and the opposition 48 hours to resolve the crisis in the country or
have the army step in with its own plan. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Opponents of Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi wave
national flags during a protest outside the presidential palace, in Cairo,
Egypt, Tuesday, July 2, 2013. Egypt was on edge Tuesday following a
"last-chance" ultimatum the military issued to Mohammed Morsi, giving the
president and the opposition 48 hours to resolve the crisis in the country or
have the army step in with its own plan. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
An
Egyptian protester waves a national flag on a roof in Tahrir Square during a
demonstration against Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in Cairo,
Monday, July 1, 2013. Egypt's powerful military warned on Monday it will
intervene if the Islamist president doesn't "meet the people's demands," giving
him and his opponents two days to reach an agreement in what it called a last
chance. Hundreds of thousands of protesters massed for a second day calling on
Mohammed Morsi to step down. (AP Photo/ Manu Brabo)
An
Egyptian protester waves a national flag in Tahrir Square during a demonstration
against Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in Cairo, Monday, July 1,
2013. Egypt's powerful military warned on Monday it will intervene if the
Islamist president doesn't "meet the people's demands," giving him and his
opponents two days to reach an agreement in what it called a last chance.
Hundreds of thousands of protesters massed for a second day calling on Mohammed
Morsi to step down. (AP Photo/ Manu Brabo)
An
Egyptian opposition demonstrator, runs down the length of a long national flag
being held by protesters calling for the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi,
outside the presidential palace in Cairo, on July 2, 2013. (MAHMUD
KHALED/AFP/Getty Images)
An
Egyptian protester shouts slogans during a demonstration against Egypt's
Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in Tahrir Square in Cairo Monday, July 1,
2013. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
Opponents of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi waves Egyptian
national flags during a protest outside the presidential palace, in Cairo,
Egypt, Monday, July 1, 2013, after Egypt's military issued an ultimatum. (AP
Photo/Khalil Hamra)
An
opponent of Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi holds a banner with Arabic
that reads, "leave," during a protest outside the presidential palace, in Cairo,
Egypt, Monday, July 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
A dog
wearing a sign around his neck with Arabic that reads, "leave," accompanies its
handler to a protest against Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi outside
the presidential palace, in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, July 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Hassan
Ammar)
Opponents of Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi protest
outside the presidential palace, in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, July 1, 2013. (AP
Photo/Hassan Ammar)
An
opponent of Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi blows a whistle during a
protest outside the presidential palace, in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, July 1, 2013.
(AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Opponents of Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi protest
outside the presidential palace, in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, July 1, 2013. (AP
Photo/Hassan Ammar)
An
Egyptian protester dances while chanting slogans against Islamist President
Mohammed Morsi during a rally in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Monday, July 1, 2013.
(AP Photo/ Manu Brabo)
Protesters pray during a demonstration against Egypt's Islamist
President Mohammed Morsi in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Monday, July 1, 2013. (AP
Photo/ Manu Brabo)
Egyptian protester stands on a roof near Tahrir Square during a
demonstration against Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in Tahrir Square
in Cairo, Monday, July 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Manu Brabo)
A
Egyptian protester waves a national flag in Tahrir Square during a demonstration
against Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in Cairo, Monday, July 1,
2013. (AP Photo/ Manu Brabo)
Fireworks light the sky as opponents of Egypt's Islamist President
Mohammed Morsi protest outside the presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt, Monday,
July 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Opponents of Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi chant
slogans during a protest outside the presidential palace, in Cairo, Egypt,
Monday, July 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Opponents of Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi chant
slogans during a protest outside the presidential palace, in Cairo, Egypt,
Monday, July 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
An
opponents of Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi blows a stadium horn
during a protest outside the presidential palace, in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, July
1, 2013. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Opponents of Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi stand on
railway bars during a protest outside the presidential palace, in Cairo, Monday,
July 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Opponents of Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi chant
slogans during a protest outside the presidential palace, in Cairo, Egypt,
Monday, July 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
An
opponent of Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi holds a poster with Arabic
that reads, "Tamarod, down with the Muslim Brotherhood regime, 6/30, in front of
Itihadeya," during a protest outside the presidential palace, in Cairo, Egypt,
Monday, July 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Opponents of Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi wave
national flags during a protest outside the presidential palace, in Cairo,
Egypt, Monday, July 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)
Opponents of Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi protest
outside the presidential palace, in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, July 1, 2013. The
banner at center, with Arabic writing, reads, "leave." (AP Photo/Hassan
Ammar)
Supporters of Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi wave
national flags and his posters during a rally in Nasser City, Cairo, Egypt, late
Monday, July 1, 2013. (AP Photo/ Amr Nabil)
An
military helicopter flies over an opponent if Egyptian Islamist President
Mohammed Morsi as he waves a national flag, in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt,
Tuesday, July 2, 2013. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
An
Egyptian protester waves his national flag as thousands celebrate on July 1,
2013 in Cairo's landmark Tahrir square after Egypt's armed forces gave President
Mohamed Morsi 48 hours to meet the demands of the people or it would intervene
with a roadmap. (GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty Images)
Egyptian opposition protesters celebrate on July 1, 2013 in Cairo's
landmark Tahrir square after Egypt's armed forces gave President Mohamed Morsi
48 hours to meet the demands of the people or it would intervene with a roadmap.
(GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty Images)
Laser
lights are directed by Egyptian protestors on military helicopters flying over
the presidential palace in Cairo as hundreds of thousands of Egyptian
demonstrators gather at the Egyptian Presidential Palace during a protest
calling for the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi on July 1, 2013 in Cairo,
Egypt. (GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty Images)
Laser
lights directed by Egyptian protestors are seen on military helicopters flying
over the presidential palace in Cairo as Hundreds of thousands of Egyptian
demonstrators gather at the Egyptian Presidential Palace during a protest
calling for the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi on July 1, 2013 in Cairo,
Egypt.(GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty Images)
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