President Barack Obama has cancelled the U.S.-Egypt military exercises set for next month, saying that the White House "strongly condemns" the violence in Egypt.
"The United States strongly condemns the steps that have been taken by Egypt interim government and security forces," Obama said in a statement sent from his vacation home on Martha's Vineyard. "We deplore violence against civilians."
However, Obama said the U.S. government will not cancel any other aid to Egypt and will continue its "engagement" with the military government in Cairo, the USA Today reported.
"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 US-Egypt military exercises, also called as “Bright Star,” were scheduled for mid-September. However, Obama said this cannot pursue because of the violence going on in Egypt which has left at least 500 dead and thousands more injured.
The President reiterated his neutral stand on the different factions that wanted to rule Egypt, CNN reported.
"We don't take sides with any particular party or political figure," Obama said. "We want Egypt to succeed. We want a peaceful, democratic, prosperous Egypt. That's our interest."
Obama added that "America cannot determine the future of Egypt. That's a task for the Egyptian people."
"To the Egyptian people, let me say the cycle of violence and escalation needs to stop," the President said. "We call on the Egyptian authorities to respect the universal rights of the people."
Meanwhile, a lawmaker asked President Obama to halt sending aids to Egypt.
"President Obama says he deplores violence in Egypt, but the foreign aid continues to help pay for it," tweeted Sen. and 2016 potential presidential candidate Rand Paul, R-Ky.
Several Republicans have criticized the President for going on a vacation with his family while Egypt fell into turmoil, CNN reported.
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