29/01/2011 11:49
Russian TV journalists beaten in Tunisia
A group of journalists from Rusiya Al-Yaum, the Arabic-language arm of satellite TV channel Russia Today, were beaten in Tunisia while covering the anti-government protests, RT said in a statement on Friday, according to RIA Novosti.
The crew, comprising a reporter, a cameraman and his assistant, were filming a TV report in the capital, Tunis, when several people surrounded them.
"Disregarding the reporters' press cards and warnings that the Russians were journalists, the unknown assailants grabbed the camera from the cameraman and broke it, then...beat the rest of the team," RT's statement said.
The journalists blamed Tunisian law enforcement for the attack.
Tunisia plunged into chaos in mid-December, when thousands of people took to the streets to protest the state's economic policies. According to UN reports, 117 have been killed, 70 by gunfire.
Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled Tunisia after anti-government protests dubbed the Jasmine Revolution.