Cairo Should Release Anadolu Agency Staff: Rights Group

The Stockholm-based human rights foundation, Skyline International, condemned Thursday the Egyptian security forces storming the Anadolu Agency office in Cairo, and arresting a number of its journalists.

Moath Hamid, head of Middle East and North Africa in the NGO, said in a statement that the arrest of journalists shows the Egyptian authorities continue targeting journalistic work and freedom of the press.

On Tuesday, Egyptian police raided Anadolu Agency's Cairo office and detained four staff members.

The detainees, including a Turkish citizen, were taken to an unknown destination.

"This is totally illegal," said Hamed, affirming the NGO's "serious concern that the charges against the Anadolu Agency staff may be incorrect and malicious" in light of the political differences between Turkey and Egypt.

He called also on the Egyptian authorities not to involve the media in the political disputes, urging for an immediate release for the detained journalists.

Turkey condemned the Egyptian authorities' move, and called for the immediate release of Anadolu Agency staff members. -