Obama administration officials: No coup in Egypt

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials say the Obama administration won't declare Egypt's government overthrow a coup, allowing the U.S. to maintain $1.5 billion in annual military and economic aid to the Arab world's most populous country.

William Burns, the State Department's No. 2 official, will inform lawmakers in closed-doors briefings on Thursday, a day after Washington delayed delivery of four F-16 fighter jets to Egypt. That was the first U.S. action since the military ousted Mohammed Morsi as president, imprisoned him and suspended the constitution.

The officials say Burns will explain why the Obama administration isn't declaring the July 3 takeover a coup and doesn't plan to in the future as Egypt moves toward new democratic elections.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak publicly about the meetings.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/obama-administration-officials-no-coup-egypt