Tensions Grow between the US and Egypt: From Allies to 'Frenemies'?

Tensions between the US and Egypt show no sign of calming down after Egyptian officials and politicians continued to accuse the US of meddling in the country's domestic affairs.

The US enjoyed a close relationship with ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, but with a change in the country's political landscape, new dynamics could be emerging.

Tensions flared after Egypt's military decided to prosecute 19 American and 10 other non-national pro-democracy activists in a probe into illegal funding of aid groups.

Now state media has published comments made by International Co-operation Minister Faiza Aboul Naga back in October.

The minister spoke out against the US and Israel while giving testimony to two judges investigating allegations that aid groups and other NGOs had used foreign funds to bolster unrest in Egypt.

"The United States and Israel could not directly create and sustain a state of chaos, so they used direct funding, especially American, as the means to reach those goals," she was quoted as saying in Egyptian press.

"Evidence shows the existence of a clear and determined wish to abort any chance for Egypt to rise as a modern and democratic state with a strong economy since that will pose the biggest threat to American and Israeli interests, not only in Egypt, but in the whole region," she reportedly added.

The US reacted angrily to the Egyptian military's accusations and threatened to cut off its $1.3 billion worth of aid in retaliation.

Salafist leaders and preachers have dismissed the US threat, saying they would replace the aid money with local donations.

Mohamed Hassan an influential Salafist preacher told the El-Nahar television channel "If America wants to cut military aid, very well; Egypt isn't less than Iran which is self-dependent when it comes to producing its own military equipment"

"The Egyptian people will not be broken anymore."

Two presidential candidates, Mohamed Selim El-Awwa and Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, have backed Hassan's initiative.

SCAF had also issued a statement condemning the US reaction saying "Egypt does not bow to the domination of anyone."