JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Rep. Todd Akin says the U.S. should suspend aid to Egypt because of the attack on the U.S. embassy and the repeated burning of American flags by Egyptians.

Akin said in a statement Thursday that the fact that the embassy attack occurred on Sept. 11 suggests it was planned and not spontaneous. He said if Egypt were a good ally, it should have better protected the U.S. embassy.

Akin said U.S. aid to Egypt should be suspended “until the Egyptian government takes corrective action to restore its relationship with the United States.”

A six-month government funding bill pending in Congress would allow almost $130 million a month in military and economic aid to Egypt.

Akin, a Republican, is challenging Democratic U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill in the November elections.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)