In response to the massacre of more than 500 Egyptians by the country’s military, President Obama said Thursday that he “deplore[s] violence against civilians” but made no indication he would suspend military aid.

Speaking from Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., where he’s on vacation, the president announced he would scrap a joint U.S.-Egypt military exercise scheduled for next month.

— Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly.

The Huffington Post:

“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.

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#barack obama#cairo egypt#egypt#egyptian military#massacre