Government suspends export licences to strife-torn Egypt

The Government has already taken action to restrict exports to Egypt.

Last month it withdrew five licences for goods such as components for armoured fighting infantry vehicles, communication equipment for tanks and machine gun parts.

Yesterday’s suspension, which applies to licences for the Egyptian army, air force and internal security forces, covers a range of equipment, including spares for helicopters and aircraft, specialist software and communications equipment.

”As a result of the developing situation in Egypt, we have agreed with EU partners in this instance to go further and suspend all export licences for goods which might be used for internal repression,” Business Secretary Vince Cable said in a statement issued yesterday.

“By acting together, we want to send a clear signal that we condemn all violence in Egypt.”

More than 1,000 people, including about 100 police and soldiers, have been killed since the army deposed Islamist President Mohamed Mursi on July 3 in the worst internal violence in the Egyptian republic’s history.

Most died when the security forces dispersed two pro-Mursi protest camps on August 14.

The suspension will be kept under review until “conditions in Egypt indicate that it is appropriate to lift these restrictions”, Mr Cable’s statement added.

Last week, the European Union stopped short of agreeing immediate cuts in financial or military assistance to Cairo when the bloc’s foreign ministers held emergency talks to find ways to help bring an end to violence in Egypt.

Speaking on the Today programme earlier this month, the Foreign Secretary, William Hague, said that what was happening in the Middle East was “the most important event so far of the 21st century”.