Egyptian prosecutors summon reporters over election coverage

CAIRO – Egypt's press syndicate chief says state security prosecutors summoned nine journalists over their coverage of last month's presidential election.

Hatem Zakaria said on Friday that the summons is for the recently-dismissed chief editor of the Egyptian daily Al-Masry Al-Youm and eight other reporters.

They are expected to show up for questioning next Thursday

Al-Masry Al-Youm was fined 150,000 Egyptian pounds, or about $8,500, and its chief editor was dismissed after a report saying the state rallied voters to participate in the presidential election.

Pro-government media and the state's regulatory bodies have largely criticized independent and foreign media's coverage of the election.

President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi was re-elected in last month's vote, which critics dubbed as undemocratic after all serious contenders quit or were forced to drop out of the race.