Prosecutors in the Upper Egyptian govenorate of Assiut have ordered the release of 5 journalists on bail Thursday, despite accusations they assaulted Muslim Brotherhood leader Wahid Mohamed Hassan.
Hassan accused Al-Watan reporter Mahmoud Malik, Al-Fagr reporter Doaa Abouel Nasr, Akhbar al-Youm photojournalist Ahmed Saad, Al-Gomhurriya journalist Mahmoud al-Asiry and Rose al-Youssef reporter Ehab Omar of assaulting him while covering a protest led by teachers demanding permanet emloyment contracts outside Assiut provincial headquarters.
Malik and Abouel Nasr had meanwhile filed separate claims following the incident, accusing Hassan of beating and insulting them.
Interrogations of the 5 journalists reportedly continued for 6 hours before they were released on bail, along with the Brotherhood official.
Assiut prosecutors meanwhile ordered the release of 10 teachers being questioned for allegedly blocking streets outside the governorate offices.
The educators were released on LE2000 bail each.
Hassan agreed to pay LE2000 bail after the teachers also accused him of assaulting them.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
