WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- A Republican U.S. senator said Sunday it appeared the volatile situation in Egypt was calming down with the military government showing a measure of restraint.
Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said on "Fox News Sunday" the military seemed to be weathering the storm over the ouster of President Mohammed Morsi, which would clear the way for a renewal of its relationship with the United States.
"It looks, over the last few days that they have been acting in a way that certainly has created security, but has not stepped over the top," said Corker, the senior Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "I know this is just maybe a few days of calmness, bit we are beginning to move in the right direction."
Corker agreed with the contention that the U.S. relationship with the military had been too entrenched and productive to abandon.
Rep. Elliot Engel, D-N.Y., the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the military held out the best hope for democracy in Egypt and was more open to U.S. influence than Morsi had been. "We need to nudge the military towards democracy," he said. "We need to push them towards civilian rule."
