Â鶹Éç

The Â鶹Éç today announced that it is protesting the deliberate assault by Cairo police on one of its journalists during today's disturbances in Egypt.

Assad Sawey, the Â鶹Éç's correspondent in Cairo, was deliberately assaulted by police while reporting today's protests.

He was reporting on a police baton charge when he was surrounded by men who appeared to be plain clothes security men. Despite clearly identifying himself as a journalist for the Â鶹Éç, he was repeatedly hit, including blows to the head. He also had his camera confiscated.

He was arrested before being released with no charge. Assad subsequently received medical attention for a wound he sustained to his head. He is continuing to report on the current situation in Cairo on behalf of the Â鶹Éç.

Â鶹Éç Global News Director Peter Horrocks said: "The Â鶹Éç condemns this assault on one of our correspondents by the authorities. We shall be forcefully protesting this brutal action directly to the Egyptian authorities. It is vital that all journalists, whether from the Â鶹Éç or elsewhere, are allowed to do their job of bringing accurate, impartial eye witness reports to audiences around the world without fear."

Â鶹Éç World Service Press Office