U.S. Senator Patrick
Leahy, chairman of the Senate appropriations subcommittee that oversees foreign
aid, said on Tuesday he will not approve sending funds to the Egyptian
military, denouncing a "sham trial" in which a court sentenced 683
people to death.
"I'm
not prepared to sign off on the delivery of additional aid for the Egyptian
military," the Vermont Democrat said in a speech on the Senate floor,
explaining why he would hold up the $650 million.
"I'm
not prepared to do that until we see convincing evidence the government is
committed to the rule of law," Leahy said.
The Obama
administration said last week it would deliver 10 Apache attack helicopters and
$650 million to Egypt's military, relaxing a partial suspension of aid imposed
after Egypt's military ousted President Mohamed Mursi last year and cracked
down violently on protesters.
Leahy said
he would block the money a day after an Egyptian court sentenced the leader of
the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood and 682 supporters to death, intensifying a
crackdown on the Islamist movement that could trigger protests and political
violence ahead of an election next month.
The Apaches
are not subject to congressional approval.
Leahy said
he would be watching the situation in Egypt with "growing dismay"
even if he were not chairman of the Appropriations Committee's State and
Foreign Operations Subcommittee, denouncing "a sham trial lasting barely
an hour."
"It's a
flaunting of human rights by the Egyptian government. It's an appalling abuse
of the justice system, which is fundamental to any democracy. Nobody, nobody,
can justify this. It does not show democracy. It shows a dictatorship run amok.
It is a total violation of human rights," Leahy said.
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