US Secretary of State John Kerry denied that the decision to slash hundreds of millions of dollars of aid to Egypt signified a pullout.

The State Department confirmed the plan to cut aid - most of it military - on Wednesday.

In all, the US provides Egypt with $1.5 billion (£940 million) aid each year.

Officials said the aid being withheld included 10 Apache helicopters at a cost of more than £310m, Abrams M1A1 tanks and Harpoon anti-ship missiles.

The US is also withholding £480m in cash until "credible progress" is made toward an inclusive government.

It had already suspended the delivery of four F-16 fighter jets and cancelled biennial US-Egyptian military exercises.

Before the announcement Egyptian military leader General Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi told Cairo daily al-Masry al-Youm that Egypt would not tolerate pressure "whether through actions or hints."

Mr Kerry said the US remained committed to restoring democracy and would continue to engage with Egypt's interim leaders.

He said the decision would not have much impact on the country.

The State Department declined to give a monetary value for the scale of the cuts, but based on cost estimates the Abrams tanks are about £6m each and Egypt was to get around four per month.

The Harpoon contract had been for 20 missiles at a total cost of £90m.

F-16 fighter jets can cost more than £20m each, but that amount could fluctuate depending on the equipment and weapons systems included.