US sees intimidation campaign against journalists in Egypt

WASHINGTON - The US alleged Thursday there were “concerted” efforts to intimidate foreign journalists reporting on the political turmoil and violence in Egypt.

“There is a concerted campaign to intimidate international journalists in Cairo and interfere with their reporting,” State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said on his Twitter account. “We condemn such actions.”

The US joined other international organizations who have complained of attacks against media covering the violent clashes on Cairo’s streets between supporters of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and opponents of the regime.

The New York Times reported that two its reporters were released Thursday after being detained overnight. The France-based group Reporters Without Borders has cited attacks by Mubarak supporters on journalists from BBC, Al Jazeera, CNN, Al-Arabiya and ABC News.