From VOA Learning English,this is In the News.Egypt is criticizing an American decisionto cancel hundreds of millions of dollarsin aid to the country.An Egyptian Foreign Ministry official saysthe decision is wrong.He says his country is prepared to carry outwhat he called a political road map,which includes plans for elections next year.The Obama administration said this weekit was suspending the delivery of major weapons to Egyptbecause of delays in progress toward an inclusive government.The decision followed an investigation of eventssince the Egyptian military oustedPresident Mohamed Morsi three months ago.President Obama has also decided to suspend $260 millionin assistance to the government that followed the ouster.Mr. Obama has said there can be no businessas usual following the overthrow of Mr. Morsi.American officials say this suspensionis a way of expressing that point.But it is far from a complete break in American assistance.The United States will continue to support programsthat it says directly help the Egyptian people.It will also continue financing programsthat support what it calls "vital security objectives."These include help aimed at securing Egypt's borders.Jonathan Broder is with Congressional Quarterly,a publication that reports on American politics.He says Mr. Obama has been under pressurefor not taking stronger stepsafter the ouster of Egypt's democratically-elected leader."There is the image that President Obamawants to present to the world as someonewho stands up for human rights and for democracy.And the images of Egyptian soldierskilling protesters on the streets of Cairois a very negative one in the United States.And there's pressure on him from human rights organizationsand from some in Congress to suspend the aid."American officials say Defense Secretary Chuck Hageldiscussed the move in a telephone call on Wednesdaywith Egypt's Defense Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.During the call, the two men were said to have re-statedthe importance of their countries' relationsin guaranteeing Middle East security.Since July, the Egyptian military has led a campaignagainst suspected militants and supporters of Mr. Morsiand the Muslim Brotherhood.At least 1,000 people have been killed.Most were Islamists.In recent days, more violence was reported,with attacks on security forces and clashesbetween protesters and police.Some Egyptians predict it only lead to increased use of military force.Emad Shahin is a public policy professorwith The American University in Cairo.He thinks military leaders are preparingfor a final battle with their long-time enemies."They think that the plan by which they managed to charge,to mobilize the anger of the people against Morsi's ruleand administration and so on, has gained a momentumand it is really time to break down the Islamists."For now, many Egyptians are still supportingthe military against its opponents.But there are questions of how long that can last.Mustafa Labbad is director of the Al Sharq Centerfor Regional and Strategic Studies."After a while you have to solve your social and economic problems.And it wouldn't matter if you are wearing a uniform or casual wear.If you are in power, you have to solve these problems."Observers say repression against one group may be possible.But attempting to suppress a larger movement will prove difficult.And that's In the News from VOA Learning English.visit 51voa.com for more...