File Photo: Egypt's Press Syndicate headquarters (Photo: Ahram Online)
Egypt's press syndicate condemned an alleged assault on journalists covering a general assembly of the Lawyers Syndicate on Sunday, and called for the assailants to be held to account.
The press syndicate said in a statement late on Sunday that "a group of lawyers attacked a number of journalists, seized their equipment and smashed their cameras" while they were covering the assembly that renewed confidence in syndicate head Sameh Ashour.
It said the attackers chased journalists to the doors of the nearby press syndicate in downtown Cairo, and published video footage of what it said was lawyers trying to storm the syndicate building and attack photographers.
The syndicate "does not in any way accept assault on any colleague and that it will spare no effort to take all measures to obtain the rights of colleagues."
Ashour ordered an urgent probe be opened into the alleged attack and urged journalists to provide any evidence they have.
He also said that the crisis appeared to be intentionally provoked.
"What is the interest of the syndicate to invent a crisis with journalists during the general assembly…where it allowed all journalists and photographers…inside and outside polling rooms?" he wondered in a statement late on Sunday.
Sunday's assembly was held to vote whether to withdraw confidence in Ashour after many members protested his "failure to protect lawyers" following many recent incidents of lawyers being arrested during their work, particularly when representing clients in police stations.
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