The US
is going ahead with plans to deliver four F-16 fighter jets to Egypt despite
the political unrest in the country, senior American officials say.
This comes as Washington is
continuing to evaluate last week's overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi by the
army.
US massive military aid to
Cairo would have to be cut by law if the removal of the Islamist leader is
determined by Washington to have been a coup.
The Muslim Brotherhood, which
backs Mr Morsi, is demanding his reinstatement.
Its supporters have been
staging mass protests near Cairo's barracks, where he is believed to be being
held. On Monday, more than 50 Brotherhood loyalists were killed in clashes with
the army.
'In US interests'
The US officials say Washington
will deliver four F-16 fighter jets in the next few weeks.
They are part of an already
agreed bigger order of 20 planes - eight of which were sent to Egypt in
January. The final eight are expected to be shipped later this year.
·
Is Egypt heading for holy war?
White House spokesman Jay
Carney on Wednesday reiterated that it would not be "in the best interests
of the United States to make immediate changes to our assistance
programmes".
He added that the
administration would take its time to consider the implications of removing Mr
Morsi from power.
US military aid to Egypt is
estimated to be $1.3bn (£860m) each year.
President Barack Obama has been
careful not to use the word "coup" in relation to the recent events
in Egypt to avoid triggering a legal cut-off of aid, the BBC's Katy Watson in
Washington reports.
'Strong condemnation'
An Egyptian foreign ministry
spokesman has said Mr Morsi is being held in a "safe place" and
treated in a "very dignified manner".
Meanwhile, arrest warrants have
been issued for the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, Mohamed Badie, and nine
senior figures.
They are charged with inciting
Monday's deadly violence in the capital.
There are conflicting reports
about what happened during the protest outside the Presidential Guard barracks,
when more than 50 Brotherhood supporters were killed, as well as a soldier and
two policemen.
The Brotherhood says the army
fired on peaceful demonstrators and is accusing the interim authorities of a
cover up. The military, however, say they acted in self-defence after being
attack by armed assailants.
Many Brotherhood members are
already in detention and warrants are said to have been been issued for
hundreds more.
Adly Mansour's transition timeline
·
Panel formed within 15 days to review constitution
·
Constitutional amendments to be finalised and put to referendum
in four months
·
Parliamentary elections to be held by early 2014
·
Presidential elections to be called once new parliament convenesThe new
arrest warrants could scupper any attempts to persuade the Brotherhood to
participate in the transitional political process, analysts say.
There is a feeling among the
protesters that they have returned to the situation they were in under former
President Hosni Mubarak, when the movement was banned and its members hunted
down, our correspondent adds.
The timetable for new
elections, announced in a constitutional declaration by interim President Adly
Mansour on Monday evening, laid out plans to set up a panel to amend the
suspended constitution within 15 days.
The changes would then be put
to a referendum - to be organised within four months - which would pave the way
for parliamentary elections, possibly in early 2014.
Once the new parliament
convenes, elections would be called to appoint a new president.
However, the Brotherhood's
political wing, the Freedom and Justice Party, and main liberal National
Salvation Front opposition coalition and the grassroots Tamarod protest
movement have all rejected the transition plan.
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