Journalists targets of mobs, military in Cairo

Journalists covering protests in Cairo were again the targets of mob violence and military detentions on Friday.

Globe and Mail reporters Sonia Verma and Patrick Martin were rushed by a crowd of loyalists to President Hosni Mubarak. At the time, Ms. Verma was filming the group march along a street in the upscale Mohandessin neighbourhood.

"You can hear the crowd baying for blood. People in local security groups have helped us off the street along with one policeman. But they're trying to get into this building. We're getting away as fast as we can," Mr. Martin said in a call to The Globe newsroom.

On Thursday, Mr. Martin and Ms. Verma were detained for three hours at gunpoint by the Egyptian military.

As well, three CBC journalists were released after being briefly detained on Friday, the network said.

In the past few days, dozens of journalists have been assaulted, detained or had their equipment seized in Cairo.

On Thursday, Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said government officials contacted Egypt's ambassador in Ottawa to express "grave concerns" about the targeting of foreign journalists.

Thousands of protesters demanding Mr. Mubarak's resignation are rallying Friday in Tahrir Square in what they are calling the "day of departure."