Defense Secretary Leon Panetta made a call Friday to Egypt’s top military official expressing his concern regarding raids by Egyptian police Thursday on American relief agencies in the country.
Panetta spoke by phone to Egyptian Field Marshal Tantawi, head of the Supreme Council of Armed Forces on Friday afternoon, expressing his “deep concern about the raids that took place on December 29 on the offices of American and other Non-Governmental Organizations,” said Pentagon spokesman George Little.
Egyptian police raided 17 NGO groups, including several that receive U.S. backing, on Thursday.
In response, U.S. officials have warned Egypt that the country could jeopardize its $1.3 billion in annual U.S. military aid if the raids continue.
News agencies in Egypt said the raids were part of a probe looking into foreign funding of groups which helped overthrow President Hosni Mubarak in February.
Little said Panetta also conveyed “his appreciation for Field Marshal Tantawi’s prompt decision to halt the raids, and to take steps that will make it easier for NGOs to operate in Egypt.”
