| Date: 16/08/2012 Time: 11:05:00 PM |
The United States is "very concerned" over
recent reports that Egypt's government is intimidating journalists and media
outlets, spokeswoman of the Department of State Victoria Nuland said Thursday.
Nuland was commenting on the charges by the Egyptian government against two
journalists for inciting violence and promoting false information against the
president.
"We are very concerned by reports that the Egyptian government is moving to
restrict media freedom and criticism in Egypt, including preventing the
distribution of Al-Dustor newspaper and the suspension of broadcasting of the
Al-Fareen (Pharaohs) satellite TV channel and that they've also announced
investigations against these two news outlet owners," Nuland said at a press
briefing.
The U.S. said it stands by the Egyptian people's demands for the new
government to support and extend freedom of the press and said "this is
something we're watching closely.
Meanwhile, the U.S. is also monitoring the country's democratic transition.
"Our expectation is that this full democratic transition will continue,
that we will get to -- that the Egyptian people will get to a constitution
that they can support by referendum and that then the issue of a fully elected
parliament will be settled and this will elaborate all of the powers and
structures of the democratic state going forward.
"But this is very much a work in progress and we are calling on all players
in Egypt who are involved in this to support democratic principles moving
forward," Nuland noted. |