Reuters withdraws article on ‘violations’ in Egypt elections after complaint

CAIRO: Reuters News Agency has taken down an article claiming that violations have occurred during the Egyptian presidential elections after a complaint by Egypt’s State Information Service.

Local newspapers reported that Reuters has removed an article it published on March 28 headlined: “Food, buses, and cash: Getting out the vote the Egyptian way.” The media report appeared to suggest that food and money may have been distributed during the election to encourage voter participation.

It replaced the report with a message that reads: “The item detailed below is withdrawn because it did not meet Reuters standards.”

The article was withdrawn through all the agency’s media around the world.

Egyptian newspaper reports that the State Information Service (SIS) has complained about the report and claimed that it was “inaccurate.”

Diaa Rashwan, head of the SIS, said he had been contacting top officials at the global news agency over the report.

He was then informed that the agency’s management in London and New York decided to remove the article.

The SIS considered the decision by Reuters’ “an acknowledgement from the agency that the reports are not true,” according to Al-Masry el-Youm newspaper.

The SIS has warned any foreign media correspondents covering the electoral process last week of consequences if their reports were written in an “unprofessional” manner.

“Any foreign article written in a non-professional manner regarding the presidential election will receive a direct and clear response. If the writer is in Cairo, then they will be summoned, even if they are not a resident. A clarification will be sent to him or her regarding the information they published,” he said.