Egypt's press syndicate says it is giving the government one-week notice to meet its demands, at the head of which is the sacking of the interior minister, after police stormed the union's building earlier this week.
During an urgent meeting attended by around 2,000 journalists at the union headquarters in Cairo on Wednesday, the syndicate called for publishing a standardised preamble in papers demanding the dismissal of the interior minister.
The syndicate announced in the meeting that journalists will go on strike if their demands, which include the release of all imprisoned journalists and an official apology from the presidency, are not met by Tuesday.
It also demanded the introduction of a law protecting journalists from assault by state officials.
Security forces raided the syndicate premises on Sunday and arrested two journalists, sparking public outrage and prompting dozens of journalists to stage a sit-in at the syndicate headquarters.
Around 2,000 journalists rallied at the syndicate on Wednesday to protest against the police action, chanting "journalism is not a crime."
The union also called on all papers to display a logo that reads "no for gag...no for silencing," in reference to a gag order imposed Tuesday by the country's top prosecutor on the arrest of the journalists.
Syndicate officials say the raid was "unprecedented" since the institutions foundation 75 years ago
