Feed: Egyptian uprising a danger for journalists and human rights workers - AggScore: 13.0

Egyptian uprising a danger for journalists and human rights workers

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caption id alignalignleft width210 captionProtesters ignore tanks and soldiers as they continue their uprising. Photo DoD img srchttpcdn2b.examiner.comsitesdefaultfilesstyleslargehash13121312673b95bac484bc7d6b4c5f04ed34.jpg alt width210 height141 captionIgnoring U.S. and European pressure to immediately transfer political power from the Mubarak regime to an interim government, progovernment demonstrators launched attacks on journalists and human rights observers in the Egyptian capital of Cairo on Thursday.United States and United Kingdom officials condemned the intimidation of reporters covering the protests against President Hosni Mubarak warned that the Egyptian government must not target journalists.One example of the increased violence occurred when an ABC News crew was threatened with beheading, although journalists managed to talk their way out of trouble. Other media organizations claim their journalists had been beaten or stabbed during a violent riot that erupted in central Cairo between antigovernment protesters and Mubarak supporters.At the same time, intelligence reports from Cairo indicate the Egyptian military is not taking sides in the demonstrations and counter demonstrations taking place in that countrys uprising, according to American Forces Press Services Jim Garamone.State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said today that the U.S. government is in daily contact with Egyptian defense and military leaders.I think that broadly speaking, the Egyptian military has played a very important and constructive role in being a stabilizing force on the ground, particularly, ... relative to what the situation looked like, ... prior to the weekend, he said during a news conference today. Yesterday was a bad day for Egypt.Crowley said there are indications the military is adjusting its movements today in response to the rioting and fighting yesterday. Still, we are very impressed by the posture and the professionalism displayed by the Egyptian military, Crowley said.Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has spoken three times with Defense Minister Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi since the demonstrations started in Egypt, said Garamone in his report submitted to the Terrorism Committee of the National Association of Chiefs of Police.To date we have seen them act professionally and with restraint, said Pentagon spokesman Marine Col. David Lapan. Again, its a very fluid situation, so we are watching every single day.The United States is reviewing military aid to Egypt, but has not stopped sending aid, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said yesterday. We will evaluate the actions of the government of Egypt in making and reviewing decisions about aid, Gibbs said during yesterdays White House media briefing. That continues.Lapan said military aid is episodic.Its not like something is happening every day, he said. It comes and goes over time, whether there is a scheduled delivery thats happening right now or in the future.The State and Defense departments manage the foreign military sales program. Systems have been approved and are scheduled for delivery to Egypt this year, including include coastal patrol craft, air combat maneuvering instrumentation, spare parts for F16 fighter jets, air defense missiles and fuses for certain munitions, said Garamone.About 625 U.S. service members are based in Egypt, most of them as part of the United Nations Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai. Their mission has not changed, Lapan said.The colonel said the department is conducting prudent planning if called upon to execute a noncombatant evacuation order.I dont want to leave the impression that were actively planning and on the verge of something, he said. As the situation develops, were always looking from a military standpoint at whats happening, and what we might do should we be called upon.He stressed that the State Department has not requested any type of evacuation assistance from the Pentagon.For more than 30 years, Egyptian officers and noncommissioned officers have trained and attended professional military education alongside American officers and NCOs. Foreign military service members training alongside U.S. personnel learn leadership and military skills, but its really about being a professional military force, Lapan said.