SHARM EL-SHEIKH: An AFP photographer had his elbow broken by a plainclothes Egyptian policeman on Saturday while trying to take pictures of French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner out jogging.Photographer Thomas Coex and other journalists had spotted the pair out running along one of the main streets of the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh on the eve of an official visit to Cairo and hurried to try to take a picture. We had gone out for a stroll, it was already dark. In the time it took to get my camera out and run towards them, I was already quite a way behind and I got perhaps 10 meters from the president, Coex said.A plainclothes Egyptian policeman who was running behind the French officials and their bodyguards then turned towards the AFP photographer while the rest of the party continued jogging. He tripped me and shoved me and I went flying. I fell on my arm, my camera went flying and got broken, said Coex.The policeman then forced the photographer to the ground in an arm lock and pointed a gun at him, according to Coex and an AFP reporter who arrived on the scene.Another plainclothes policeman helped the first to keep Coex on the ground for around five minutes before a uniformed officer arrived.He was then taken to a police station where he was held for around 20 minutes before being allowed to go to a hospital to receive treatment accompanied by a policeman and a French colleague.During the incident, Coex called to a French bodyguard escorting Sarkozy, who turned briefly before running on. It was unclear whether either the president or the foreign minister were aware of the incident.On Friday, Egyptian security forces fired warning shots to deter photographers from approaching a boat being used by the couple, a security official told AFP.The photographers boat kept its distance, allowing the couple to continue their outing, he said. It s a head of state. It s normal in this case that security measures are draconian, he added. -AFP
Police break arm of AFP man covering Sarkozy visit
