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28 March 2024

Obama talks civic freedoms, IMF with Egypt's Tantawi

Published
By Reuters

President Barack Obama stressed US support for Egypt's move to democracy and discussed its International Monetary Fund talks in a telephone conversation on Friday with Egyptian military council chief Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, the White House said.

"The president reinforced the necessity of upholding universal principles and emphasized the important role that civil society, including non-governmental organisations, have in a democratic society," the White House said in a statement.

"He underscored that non-governmental organisations should be able to operate freely."

Obama also discussed Egypt's economic outlook with Tantawi. Egypt has asked the IMF for $3.2 billion in support and an MF delegation is due to visit in late January.