CAIRO -- One of Egypt's main opposition parties and its largest Islamist movement condemned on Saturday a U.S. decision to block all new aid after the imprisonment of an Egyptian-American democracy advocate.

The opposition WAFD Party and a spokesman for the Muslim Brotherhood both decried the White House's decision as interference in Egypt's domestic affairs.

The two groups even suggested that Egypt would be better off without the two billion dollars a year it already receives in civilian and military aid from the United States, which is not affected by the cut-off. "The WAFD rejects this blatant U.S. intervention in Egypt's internal affairs," the liberal-leaning party's mouthpiece newspaper said, declaring its "total solidarity with the Egyptian government in confronting any foreign pressure."

Party President Noaman Gomaa "called on President Hosni Mubarak to consult with officials and financial experts to establish a program (so that Egypt) could dispense with U.S. aid ... so that Egypt's will would not be subjected to any foreign pressure," t he paper said.

"We are against any interference from any foreign authority in our own policy, in our own business," Maamoun al-Hodeiby, spokesman for the Muslim Brotherhood, told AFP.

"We have always been sure that any aid from the United States is not in our benefit. It is better that we do not depend on foreign aid.

"We are not against the United States (doing something) for human rights, but they are defending one person only, they are not defending human rights," Hodeiby said.

The Brotherhood frequently complains that the United States shows "double standards" by not reacting when members of the banned but non-violent Islamist organization are arrested or tried before military courts.

U.S. officials said Thursday that President George W. Bush had decided to oppose new aid to Egypt to protest the seven-year jail sentence handed down last month to Egyptian-American human rights activist Saad Eddin Ibrahim.

Ibrahim, a 63-year-old sociology professor at the American University in Cairo, was jailed on charges that included tarnishing Egypt's image abroad.

The verdict was widely condemned by local and international human rights groups, and a number of prominent Egyptians testified in his defense.

eaa0160 4 i 0398 egy /afp-mo75 egypt-us-opposition egyptian opposition decries us aid threat cairo, aug 17 (afp) - one of egypt's main opposition parties and its largest islamist movement condemned on saturday a us decision to block all new aid after the imprisonment of an egyptian-american democracy advocate.

the opposition wafd party and a spokesman for the muslim brotherhood both decried the white house's decision as interference in egypt's domestic affairs.

the two groups even suggested that egypt would be better off without the two billion dollars a year it already receives in civilian and military aid from the united states, which is not affected by the cut-off. "the wafd rejects this blatant us intervention in egypt's internal affairs," the liberal-leaning party's mouthpiece newpaper said, declaring its "total solidarity with the egyptian government in confronting any foreign pressure."

party president noaman gomaa "called on president hosni mubarak to consult with officials and financial experts to establish a program (so that egypt) could dispense with us aid ... so that egypt's will would not be subjected to any foreign pressure," the paper said.

"we are against any interference from any foreign authority in our own policy, in our own business," maamoun al-hodeiby, spokesman for the muslim brotherhood, told afp.

"we have always been sure that any aid from the united states is not in our benefit. it is better that we do not depend on foreign aid.

"we are not against the united states (doing something) for human rights, but they are defending one person only, they are not defending human rights," hodeiby said.

the brotherhood frequently complains that the united states shows "double standards" by not reacting when members of the banned but non-violent islamist organisation are arrested or tried before military courts.

us officials said thursday that president george w. bush had decided to oppose new aid to egypt to protest the seven-year jail sentence handed down last month to egyptian-american human rights activist saad eddin ibrahim.

ibrahim, a 63-year-old sociology professor at the american university in cairo, was jailed on charges that included tarnishing egypt's image abroad.

the verdict was widely condemned by local and international human rights groups, and a number of prominent egyptians testified in his defense.