Pro-Mubarak rioters chase reporters in Cairo hotels

Egyptian military arrests foreign media after attacks; State Department condemns "campaign to intimidate int'l journalists."

egypt riot mob 311 (photo credit: Associated Press)
egypt riot mob 311
(photo credit: Associated Press)
Supporters of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak are storming hotels in Cairo and chasing journalists, Reuters reported on Thursday.
Earlier Thursday, the Egyptian military began rounding up journalists, possibly for their own protection, after they came under attack from supporters of President Hosni Mubarak who have been attacking anti-government protesters.
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An Associated Press reporter saw a group of foreign journalists being detained by the military on a street near Tahrir Square, the scene of battles between supporters of Mubarak and protesters demanding he step down after nearly 30 years in power
Two New York Times journalists were reportedly taken into protective custody
Foreign photographers reported a string of attacks on them Thursday morning by Mubarak supporters near Tahrir Square. One Greek photographer was stabbed in the leg.
"There is a concerted campaign to intimidate international journalists in Cairo and interfere with their reporting," State Department Spokesman P.J. Crowley tweeted on Thursday afternoon.
"We condemn such actions," Crowley added.
On Wednesday, four Israeli journalists were arrested by Egyptian military police in Cairo. They were released hours later. Three of those arrested work for Channel 2 and the fourth is from Nazareth.
Pro-governor protesters attacked reporters on Wednesday, including CNN correspondent Anderson Cooper and his news crew and Washington Post reporters.
On Sunday, Egyptian authorities ordered the closure of Al-Jazeera's offices covering the protests. A statement by Al-Jazeera called Egypt's decision an act "designed to stifle and repress" open reporting. On Monday, six Al-Jazeera journalists were arrested, and released later that day.
The US State Department condemned actions against journalists in Egypt on Wednesday.
State Department Spokesman P.J. Crowley tweeted: "We are concerned about detentions and attacks on news media in Egypt. The civil society that Egypt wants to build includes a free press."
Click here for full Jpost coverage of unrest in Egypt
Click here for full Jpost coverage of unrest in Egypt