Reports continue to emerge that as Egyptian government loyalists and protesters take to the streets creating a war zone, American journalists in Cairo are being detained, beaten with sticks and hopsitalized. Now, we learn they're even being stalked.
Al Jazeera reports that spotters using high-powered binoculars are acting as informants, alerting police when they see camera equipment so they can raid the journalists' hotel room.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said today that the "systematic targeting" of journalists in Egypt is unacceptable, and said those detained must be freed.
Journalists were also targeted Wednesday, with footage of the attack on CNN's Anderson Cooper outside Tahrir Square gaining immediate traction. Cooper tweeted yesterday after the incident:
"Got roughed up by thugs in pro-mubarak crowd..punched and kicked repeatedly. Had to escape. Safe now"
Journalists from numerous news outlets including the BBC, Fox News, the Washington Post and the New York Times have been harassed, held or beaten by apparent Mubarak supporters, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The International Press Institute is keeping up with reports of attacks on journalists in Egypt. Anthony Mills, the organization's press freedom manager, called on Egyptian authorities and the army to intervene, offering the reminder that, "The world is watching."
You can help by donating to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, which is investigating at least 10 cases of reporters being detained. You can also give to Amnesty International or Human Rights Watch, both of which have called for the Egyptian Vice President to stop the violence against journalists and activists. Researchers from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have also been detained.