Dubai: The United States yesterday slammed a "concerted campaign" of intimidation against international journalists covering the upheaval in Egypt.
"There is a concerted campaign to intimidate international journalists in Cairo and interfere with their reporting. We condemn such actions," said State Department spokesman Philip Crowley on the microblogging website Twitter.
Al Jazeera reported two of its reporters were attacked on their way from the airport to central Cairo.
Ahmad Rasheed, a blogger in Cairo told the BBC: "Two of my friends have been arrested — one is the blogger Sandmonkey.
"They were trying to get food and medical supplies. These thugs [supporters of Mubarak] are arresting people and delivering them to the secret police. I was at the protest last night and I got injured after a stone was thrown at my head. I'm going to go back today and get food and medical supplies, if I don't get arrested." Sandmonkey's blog appeared to have been suspended.
Another Reuters journalist Simon Hanna tweeted: "Gang of thugs stormed the VideoCairo/Reuters building,started smashing windows, doors. Army came up to help. We managed to escape."
Shots fired
A concerned citizen reported, that a man with a camera who was wearing a blue "PRESS" vest was beaten on the street. The army had to step in and fire shots in the air to disperse the crowd, and the man was led away. An Al Alam correspondent reported that premises of satellite channels, including their station were evacuated following a threat to set it on fire.
When asked about reports of harassment of reporters, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said: "The freedom of speech, whether [of] peaceful demonstrators or journalists, should be fully guaranteed and protected."
