Egypt Islamist campaigns to substitute US aid

Egypt's prime minister and the head of the influential seat of Islamic learning, al-Azhar, on Thursday praised a campaign by an Islamist scholar to raise donations as a substitute for US aid that is threatened by a stand-off over civil society groups.

The campaign spearheaded by prominent Salafi scholar Mohamed Hassaan calls on Egyptians to pay $1.66 each in response to US threats to cut aid to Egypt over investigations that have resulted in charges against 19 Americans. (Reuters)