RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Arabia’s finance minister says the kingdom has pledged $5 billion in grants and loans to Egypt’s new government, a second major promise of aid from the Gulf to the cash-strapped country after the ouster of President Mohammed Morsi.
Saudi Arabia is a leading critic of Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood, as is the United Arab Emirates which earlier Tuesday announced a $3 billion package to Egypt.
The aid is the clearest sign yet of shifting policies among the wealthy Gulf nations. Qatar had been a main backer of the Brotherhood, giving Morsi’s government several billion dollars.
Saudi Finance Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf says the package includes $2 billion to be deposited in Egypt’s Central Bank and $2 billion worth of oil and gas.
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