Egypt-U.S. relations in turmoil - Egyptian foreign minister

Relations between the United States and Egypt are in deep-seated turmoil which could hurt the entire Middle East, the Egyptian foreign minister said in remarks published on Wednesday.
          
Nabil Fahmy told the state-run Al-Ahram newspaper the extension of the period of instability in ties would "reflect negatively on the entire region, including American interests."
          
"We are now in a delicate state reflecting the turmoil in the relationship and anyone who says otherwise is not speaking honestly," he said.
             
Egypt criticized a U.S. decision last week to curtail military and economic aid to Cairo after a crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood, although Washington stressed it was not severing ties with its long-standing ally.
          
U.S. officials said the move reflected Washington's unhappiness with Egypt's path since the army overthrew freely-elected President Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood on July 3.
             
The army-backed interim government insisted Egypt would not bow to U.S. pressure, saying it found the decision strange at a time when the country was "facing a war against terrorism".

         
REUTERS