Egypt to hold U.S. students at least 4 days

Three American university students arrested amid violent protests in Cairo will remain jailed through Thanksgiving weekend, according to a report on Egypt's state television network.

Derrik Sweeney and Gregory Porter, both 19, and Luke Gates, 21, were arrested Monday in Cairo and accused of throwing firebombs at security forces from the roof of a building on the American University in Cairo campus, where they were enrolled in classes.

"The Public Prosecution has ordered the detention of the three Americans that were arrested in Tahrir Square during the ongoing clashes between protesters and security forces for four days," the news anchor on Egypt TV said Thursday.

Dad: U.S. student denies Cairo firebomb, not hurt
Egypt questions 3 detained U.S. students
Mom reacts to U.S. student's detention in Cairo

The report also showed new video of the three young men in custody, holding the bottles allegedly found in a backpack they were carrying when arrested. One appears to contain a yellowish liquid. The video appeared to have been shot at the same time as a previous clip released by the Egyptian authorities on Tuesday. They are lined up against a wall, looking nervous. In the new clip, two of the Americans are holding plastic bottles, one of which contains the liquid.

"They were found carrying a bag containing a bottle filled with fuel, empty bottles and a camera," the Egypt TV report said, adding that the Americans claim the bag belonged to Egyptian friends from their dorm.

The two Egyptians named as owners of the backpack by the young men have also now been arrested and face questioning by Egyptian prosecutors in the case, according to the TV report.

Derrik Sweeney's father Kevin says his son insists he was merely watching the protests from the roof, and that he never threw anything.

Sweeney's mother admitted on Wednesday that she was already losing hope for a quick resolution.

Joy Sweeney said a US. Embassy official told the family that any decision on charging or releasing her son was unlikely before Saturday.

The mother also says the family was told the students were questioned late into Wednesday night and that significant progress was unlikely Thursday. She says the embassy official said Friday is a holiday in Egypt and that work is not done on Sunday. There's an election Monday, so it could be Tuesday before a decision is made.

Those predictions seem accurate given the State TV report Thursday citing a four day detention. There was no indication as to when, or if, the young men might be freed or charged after that four day period.