London:
Britain on Friday announced it was revoking export licences for equipment used by Egypt's military and police amid concerns it could be used against protesters.
The licences concerned cover components for armoured personnel carriers and for machine guns, as well as radio and communications equipment, including for tanks, a spokeswoman
for the business ministry told AFP.
"We are deeply concerned about the situation in Egypt and the events which have led to the deaths of protestors," Business Secretary Vince Cable said in a statement.
"The government takes its export responsibilities very seriously and operates one of the most rigorous arms export control regimes in the world."
He added: "Whilst we have no reports of British equipment being used in the unrest in Egypt, we have taken the decision to revoke five licences."
Cable said Britain had a long-standing policy of refusing exports of goods used for internal repression.
"We will not grant export licences where we judge there is a clear risk the goods might be used for internal repression, provoke or prolong conflict within a country, be used aggressively against another country or risk our national security," he said.
A report by the British parliament's committees on arms export controls on Wednesday raised questions about the 134 export licences currently approved to Egypt, which are
worth USD 90 million.
Other licensed products include body armour, military helmets, pistols, "acoustic devices for riot control", assault rifles, sniper rifles, weapon sights and combat shotguns, the
report said.
Tens of thousands of Islamists poured onto Egypt's streets today demanding the reinstatement of Mohamed Morsi, the president ousted by the army following huge street
demonstrations against him.
The licences concerned cover components for armoured personnel carriers and for machine guns, as well as radio and communications equipment, including for tanks, a spokeswoman
for the business ministry told AFP.
"We are deeply concerned about the situation in Egypt and the events which have led to the deaths of protestors," Business Secretary Vince Cable said in a statement.
"The government takes its export responsibilities very seriously and operates one of the most rigorous arms export control regimes in the world."
He added: "Whilst we have no reports of British equipment being used in the unrest in Egypt, we have taken the decision to revoke five licences."
Cable said Britain had a long-standing policy of refusing exports of goods used for internal repression.
"We will not grant export licences where we judge there is a clear risk the goods might be used for internal repression, provoke or prolong conflict within a country, be used aggressively against another country or risk our national security," he said.
A report by the British parliament's committees on arms export controls on Wednesday raised questions about the 134 export licences currently approved to Egypt, which are
worth USD 90 million.
Other licensed products include body armour, military helmets, pistols, "acoustic devices for riot control", assault rifles, sniper rifles, weapon sights and combat shotguns, the
report said.
Tens of thousands of Islamists poured onto Egypt's streets today demanding the reinstatement of Mohamed Morsi, the president ousted by the army following huge street
demonstrations against him.
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