Detention of scribes shocking, India tells Egypt

India has condemned the detention of and attacks on journalists in Egypt, terming them as "unacceptable".

"I am pained and shocked to learn about the detention and attacks on journalists in Egypt, who were reporting on the unfolding developments. Such incidents are totally unacceptable and must stop immediately," External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said.

The minister, whose office is in touch with Indian journalists in Cairo, also said that the detained media persons should be released forthwith.

Amid the political turmoil and chaos in Egypt, foreign journalists have become targets of rampaging mobs, mostly aligned with embattled President Hosni Mubarak. Journalists became targets, beaten, bloodied, harassed and detained by raging men, most in some way aligned

with Mubarak, CNN, ABC News and other media outlets reported.

Four Israeli journalists have been reportedly arrested in Egypt while trying to cover the escalating violence.

The External Affairs Ministry on Wednesday issued an advisory for those intending to cover the protests, including obtaining the State Information Service accreditation.

"It is understood that around 3000 foreign and Egyptian correspondents are currently in Cairo to file/film stories and a number of them are without suitable accreditation. A number of journalists, including some Indian journalists, have got into trouble as a result," the ministry said.

According to some reports reaching New Delhi, a cameraman of a private TV channel in India was detained and then let off while shooting the protests in Cairo