DHAKA: Qatari-owned news channel Al-Jazeera has launched legal action against the Egyptian authorities, saying that its journalists have been detained without charge and attacked.

Al-Jazeera’s London-based lawyers announced on Thursday, reports The Straits Times.

The network said it had asked renowned legal firm Carter-Ruck, a specialist in international law, to take action in the international courts and before the United Nations over accusations of harassment.

Since president Mohamed Mursi was overthrown on July 3, Al-Jazeera says that ‘a large number’ of its journalists have been arrested and detained by the security services ‘either without charge or on spurious and politically motivated charges’.

It also accuses the military and police of attacking its journalists and says that some of its offices have been closed and its transmissions jammed.

BDST: 1344 HRS, SEPT 12, 2013
RoR/BSK