Pentagon says military relations with Egypt to continue

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Thursday had a phone conversation with Egypt's Minister of Defense Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, saying military relations with Egypt will continue, even after President Barack Obama cancelled a joint military exercises as violence rages in that country.

In a statement, Hagel said he called Al-Sisi to discuss the U.S. -Egypt defense relationship, reiterating that the United States " remains ready to work with all parties to help achieve a peaceful, inclusive way forward."

"The Department of Defense will continue to maintain a military relationship with Egypt," said Hagel. "But I made it clear that the violence and inadequate steps towards reconciliation are putting important elements of our longstanding defense cooperation at risk."

Hagel called on the Egyptian government to refrain from violence, respect freedom of assembly, and move toward an inclusive political transition, saying recent developments, including the violence that has resulted in hundreds of deaths across the country, "have undermined those principles."

Obama on Thursday "strongly condemned" the steps taken by the Egyptian interim government and security forces, announcing that the United States military will not conduct the Bright Star training exercise scheduled for later this year.

The Egyptian security forces moved Wednesday to clear two camps in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, which were occupied by supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi demanding his return to power, resulting in violence and clashes across the country which killed at least 525 people and injured 3,717 others, according to the Health Ministry.

Hours after the raids on the camps in Cairo, Egypt's interim government declared a state of emergency nationwide for one month, imposing a curfew on Cairo and 10 provinces and allowing security forces to arrest and detain civilians indefinitely without charges.