White House denies rumors of cutting Egypt aid
- Report comes in the wake of recent violence against protesters that caused deaths
- White House denied CNN%27s report
- Similar news has been inaccurately reported in the past
The Obama administration is denying media reports that the United States plans to cut aid to Egypt.
"The reports that we are halting all military assistance to Egypt are false," National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said. "We will announce the future of our assistance relationship with Egypt in the coming days, but as the president made clear at UNGA (the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York), that assistance relationship will continue."
Hayden's statements came after CNN reported the United States plans to cut off aid to Egypt in the wake of the July coup against President Mohammed Morsi and subsequent turmoil.
The news organization based its report on word from an unidentified U.S. official.
The source told CNN that the decision was motivated by an "accumulation of events" that includes violence against protesters, many of whom died over the weekend.
Separately, the Associated Press, also citing anonymous officials, reported that hundreds of millions of dollars in military and economic assistance to Egypt would be slashed.
The U.S. provides Egypt with $1.5 billion a year in aid, $1.3 billion of which is military assistance, according to the AP.
The suspension will take place in the next few days, CNN reported.