Egypt Arrests US Student, Australian Journalist

Published February 11, 2012 5:18PM (EST)

CAIRO (AP) — An Egyptian security official says that authorities have arrested an Australian journalist and an American student accused of trying to bribe people to join a strike demanding a faster transition to civilian rule called for the anniversary of former President Hosni Mubarak's ouster.

He says the foreigners and their Egyptian guide were detained in the city of Mahalla al-Kobra on Saturday after residents told police the three were handing out money to encourage people to participate in the strike.

The northern industrial city has seen violent worker strikes in the past.

The security official says they will be referred to the state prosecutor's office. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release the information.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's state news agency says the Pentagon's top general is visiting the country for security talks with the country's military rulers, amid tensions between the two allies over charges filed against 16 American civil society workers accused of fomenting unrest.

MENA reported Saturday that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey has met with Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi and several members of the country's ruling military council, including his Egyptian counterpart Lt. Gen. Sami Anan.

The report says that they discussed "the depth of the strategic relationship between Washington and Cairo."

A Pentagon official had said prior to Dempsey's visit to Cairo that the nonprofit dispute would be raised in the meeting and that he would talk with Egypt's leaders about "choices and consequences."


By Salon Staff

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