WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama’s first package of post-coup economic aid to Egypt is hitting a roadblock in Congress, where a key Republican senator is holding up the transfer of $60 million to a program to spur private investment in Egypt’s flailing economy, according to U.S. officials and congressional aides.
The Obama administration decided earlier this month to suspend much of America’s annual $1.6 billion in mostly military support to its once ironclad Middle East ally, citing the ruling army’s continued crackdown on political opponents since ousting Mohammed Morsi, the popularly elected, Muslim Brotherhood-backed president, in July. But the administration pledged at the same time to maintain the strategic relationship, and recently sought congressional approval for a chunk of assistance.
