Australian FM expresses concern over journalists arrested in Egypt
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Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Kevin Rudd on Tuesday expressed his concerns over the Australian journalists being arrested in Egypt.
There were widespread reports of the temporary arrest, and incarceration of international journalists in Cairo of Egypt.
According to the Herald Sun, four Australian journalists were detained in Egypt on Sunday night in two separate incidents, two of them blindfolded and handcuffed with wire. All of them were being released on Monday.
Rudd has spoken to the Egyptian foreign minister overnight to express his concern about the safety of Australian journalists working in Cairo of Egypt.
"We have about 17 or so Australian journalists in the country that we have contact with. There may be others. So what we have sought to do is two sets of things," Rudd told ABC News on Tuesday.
"He (Egyptian Foreign Minister) provided those assurances, but you understand as well as I do that there are significant complexities in Egyptian politics at present."
Secondly, Rudd has assisted the Australian journalists relocation to a more secure and safe hotel environment, one where Australian embassy officials can also be in active liaison as well.
"The relocation is underway and we stand ready to further assist Australian journalists doing their legitimate work," Rudd said.
"If I need to raise further matters with the Egyptian government I will do so because I know this is a difficult and dangerous work for journalists on the ground as well."
Rudd said the Australian ambassador in Cairo has also been in contact with a range of Egyptian authorities.
