Egypt minister regrets 'harsh treatment'

Dozens of journalists from around the world have been detained or assaulted while covering the revolution protests in Egypt as massive anti-government protests continues in the North African country.

Egypt's Finance Minister Samir Radwan has apologized for the "harsh treatment" of government forces toward journalists and Egyptian protesters during massive anti-government demonstrations in the country.

"I would apologize to any journalist or any foreigner or any Egyptian for that matter that has been subjected to this harsh treatment," Radwan said in an interview with CNN on Friday.

"I inquired and I was told that there is zero tolerance, zero tolerance of this government on attacks against foreigners, let alone journalists whom we need to have them on our side, to watch this situation unfold and convey a much better image to the outside world," the Egyptian minister added.

He made the remarks a day after the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists stated that it had recorded 24 detentions of journalists, 21 assaults and five cases of confiscation of equipment for over a 24-hour period amid ongoing revolutionary protests in the North African country.

The committee said an Egyptian journalist, who was working for the al-Ta'awun newspaper, died on Friday of a gunshot wound he suffered while covering the unrest in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, a week ago.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has denounced the attacks on journalists and human rights activists as "outrageous and totally unacceptable," calling for an immediate cessation of violence against journalists as well as protesters, who have relentlessly urged the ouster of embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

A Press TV correspondent in Cairo was also forced to flee a scene of chaos and violence as he feared being arrested by government forces on Thursday.

On Wednesday, Reporters Without Borders Secretary General Jean-Francois Julliard hit out at pro-Mubarak mob and government vigilantes over "shocking" attacks in Cairo against foreign reporters.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that at least eight people were killed and more than 800 injured during clashes on Wednesday and Thursday in several Egyptian cities, including Cairo and Alexandria.

According to the United Nations, at least 300 people have so far been killed and thousands more injured during nationwide revolution protests in Egypt.

HA/HRF