US Secretary of State John Kerry said in a news conference Saturday on the sidelines of the Egyptian Economic Development Conference that he expects a decision on the release of US military aid to Egypt "very soon." The US has withheld deliveries of 20 F-16 fighter jets and other military hardware in the wake of 2013 ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi — a move executed under the leadership of then army chief and current president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The release of the aid by the US Congress is pending "progress" on democratic reform. Kerry praised at the presser Egypt's economic conference, saying the inclusion of the private sector in shoring up investment will help Egypt through its current crisis, Ahram Online reported. Kerry also said the US supports Egypt in completing its democratic transition and supporting human rights and civil society. Egypt is yet to hold parliamentary elections, postponed this month for necessary amendments to its electoral laws. The Economic Development Conference will last until Sunday. Gulf countries pledged $12.5 billion in aid to Egypt on the conference's launch Friday.
