France Urges Egypt To Protect Journalists

PARIS (AP) - France's foreign minister has called attacks on foreign journalists in Egypt "unacceptable" and urged Egyptian authorities to protect reporters covering pro-democracy demonstrations there.

Michele Alliot-Marie says "incidents (have occurred) which have compromised the security" of journalists from French media outlets including Le Monde newspaper.

She says some 20 French journalists are holed up in a hotel in Cairo and are in constant contact with the French embassy there. In a statement Friday, Alliot-Marie said France's ambassador has been instructed to intervene immediately in case of further problems involving French journalists.

The White House spokesman on Thursday condemned the "systematic targeting" of reporters covering the protests.