WASHINGTON The chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee said on Saturday that he would block military aid to Egypt if it does not take "concrete, meaningful and sustainable steps" to improve human rights in the country.

Democratic U.S. Senator Ben Cardin issued the threat against Egypt in a statement, saying "it is imperative that we continue to hold the government of Egypt, and all governments, accountable for their human rights violations."

(Reporting By Matt Spetalnick and Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Daniel Wallis)