Photo, TV reporters targeted in Cairo

Police and self-professed supporters of embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Thursday started attacking photo and television reporters in Cairo.

Before Wednesday, journalists had no problem taking pictures of whatever they liked but the situation turned around following clashes between Mubarak supporters and opponents, a RIA Novosti photo correspondent said.

The violence that erupted on Cairo's central Tahrir Square on Wednesday was repeated on Thursday, with rioters hurling stones and smoke grenades at one another as the army maintained neutrality.

"It's open season [on reporters] now. People in the part of the square where Mubarak supporters are concentrated have twice attempted to grab my camera," the RIA photographer said.

There are suggestions that the authorities have informally instructed their supporters to prevent any photo and video coverage of the ongoing events so the moment a person with a camera appears in the street, he is attacked. In the best-case scenario his camera is taken away but physical violence has become common.

Thousands of Mubarak supporters arrived at Tahrir Square on horses and camels on Wednesday and clashed with opposition protesters. Protesters were also fired on by pro-government supporters during morning prayers on Thursday.

Media reports say between five and 15 people have been killed and up to 1,500 injured in fighting in the square.

Anti-government protests broke out in Egypt on January 25. The unrest has already claimed the lives of at least 300 people and injured several thousand across the North African state.

CAIRO, February 3 (RIA Novosti)

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