Egypt: Al-Jazeera journalists to be held another 15 days; accused of joining a terrorist group
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Egypt's top prosecutor has ordered five people — including four journalists working for satellite news broadcaster Al-Jazeera English — held for 15 days on suspicion of joining a terrorist organization and spreading false news harmful to the state security.
Prosecutor General Hisham Barakat's order on Tuesday accused the five of belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood, the group from which ousted President Mohammed Morsi hails.
The order had a list of accusations against the five, including alleging they set up a media network with the aim of "tarnishing Egypt's image abroad and harming its political position."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The journalists were arrested late Sunday at a five-star hotel in Cairo. The network has demanded they be released.
Egypt has accused Al-Jazeera of favoring the Brotherhood in its coverage since the July 3 coup.