Egypt Protesters/Guardian Jack Shenker Police Beating - Audio

Jack Shenker and the Cairo protesters were rounded up by police in a van and apparently driven to the desert. he Guardian's reporter in Cairo, was beaten by police alongside protesters last night. He recorded the experience as they were driven in the dark through the city

Haridi Hussein Haridi, 54, and his assistant Haitham Badry, 23, were taken into custody during the biggest anti-government protests Egypt has seen in years, AP said.

Haridi telephoned the AP news bureau to say the two had been pushed into a police van and were being driven to an unknown location before his mobile phone was disconnected.

Nearly 18 hours later, Haridi telephoned a colleague to say he and Badry were in police custody. He said they had not been mistreated but would not be released soon. He said he did not know why they were still being held.

Both were detained although they are accredited and were carrying press documents issued by Egyptian authorities.

Separately, AP photographer Nasser Gamil Nasser, 43, had his right cheekbone broken and will need surgery to repair the fractures. He said a policeman charged him while he was shooting protests late Tuesday and hurled a stone at his face. His camera was smashed.