Anderson Cooper Decides to Leave Egypt

By Christine Fenno Posted Feb 6th 2011 01:09PM

Escalating violence in Egypt targeting journalists and camera crews, all trying to report on the massive demonstrations that broke out Jan. 25, have prompted many news teams to evacuate for safety. NBC's Brian Williams and CBS' Katie Couric left the country on Thursday.

Anderson Cooper, despite being attacked Feb. 2, insisted days later that "we will find a way" to stay and cover the protests against President Hosni Mubarek. However, he recently told followers on Twitter that he's packed up.

"It is with a heavy heart that I have decided to leave Egypt," he wrote Saturday. "CNN continues to have many teams in place. It was a hard decision to leave."

The CNN anchor didn't indicate whether he has traveled directly home to the U.S., and has not yet spoken publicly about what prompted the change of heart.

Cooper has a history of sticking with dramatic stories, both domestic and international, while reporting from the field under frequently changing circumstances. But his viewers know he was attacked in Cairo last week (CNN stated no serious injuries were sustained) and security in cities where riotors are most aggressive is apparently not improving. The Committee to Protect Journalists reports more than 110 direct attacks on journalists in recent days.

The day Cooper was caught in the violence, a CNN staffer working on the story told his Twitter followers the anchor was "punched 10 times in the head."

Cooper later described the incident on the air: "There was no rhyme or reason...it was just people looking for a fight, looking to make a point and punching us....They at first started going for the cameras; they didn't want any pictures taken...The crowd kept growing, kept throwing punches, kicks....suddenly, a young man would look at you and punch you in the face."

Millions have taken to the streets demanding the immediate removal of President Mubarak and his regime, amid corruption allegations. In response, pro-Mubarek counter protests have created particularly violent conditions, with the two sides attacking one another with bottles, stones and sticks.

Tags: anderson cooper, cnn, egypt protests

Comments

(59)

Sunday 06 February

By loosecannon1

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this is one less lying main stream media moron over there reporting his bought and paid for lies. I dont believe he was ever attacked no pictures no footage . just another fabracated bull crap story. all these odumba supportering lying idiots .

Monday 07 February

By MG

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How ignorant. If you search before you post, you'll find 11 minutes of footage where you can clearly see Cooper and his team being hit repeatedly. You must live in one of those fly over states in America.

By Vi Vessier

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If the government forces are willing to attack and kill their citizens with reporters watching, what will they do when the reporters leave?

By Kelsy

Friday's program was a wrap up, it was obvious he decided to leave before they went on the air Friday and had their flights booked. I don't mind that he left, but he shouldn't say he wanted to stay when it didn't appear he wanted to. or he would have.

By Culinary Clod

If any of you think these journalists are cowards, then go over there and take their place. But remember to take plenty of tissues and Depends because you'll be crying your eyes out and crapping your pants.

By kathe

if 'being there' is important -- why not NBC< CBS< etc. send
body guards for the journalists.

guess folks there will be 'deputized' and
do the reporting via phones -- as they say
a picture i worth a 1000 words.

By David

I suppose ego has a lot to do with the need for big name media people to be on the front lines of action. We would care les whether they sit beyond their usual TV desks and have unknown reporters tell us the latest. It's not imipresse for us to believe that our own Katie or Christian were really right there.

By Rebecca

Thank God all our journalists have gotten out of that plane. Anderson won my heart after all his and Dr. Guptas work over there. Better to be safe over here than to lose your life . I admire all your courageouness!

By Kris M

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It is a good thing to get Anderson Cooper out of there. He is a high profile target, bound to draw the attention of the rioters. If he were to be taken hostage or killed, the US would find itself in a no win situation, between those feeling that we should go in with force and those who believe we should stay out of the situation.

By karl anglin

Maybe now the mainstream press
is beginning to understand the
danger of Islam and what it means
to western civization!

By Heather

He's in a country where 99% of the population is some shade of mahogany, coffee, caramel, etc; they probably thought his pale arse was a ghost!

By mike b

ANDERSON COOPER, THE SMUG LIBERAL ELITE, SHOULD JUST GO HOME WITH HIS TAIL BETWEEN HIS LEGS AND LEAVE THE REPORTING TO GROWNUPS

Tuesday 08 February

By chartman

too bad katie couric wasn't roughed up a little bit. maybe it would clear her head about her statement that we need a muslim cosby show. what a dirt bag she is.

By Smackitup

Andersons nothing more than a entertainment personality. Sure, Mr Journalist, go home, Get slammed around by your "Buddies" We know thats how you "like it"
CNN is Garbage.

By Al

His current boyfriend is French, think they've been together for 3 years now.

By sfkendoll

Hey, all you haters... If you think you could do a better job, please go today and be sure to wrap the American flag around you when you report from Tahiri Square and see if you don't get knocked around a bit.

By kaci

I would definitely leave. Those people are not sane. I just read they killed a little girl of 14 because her 40 year old cousin raped her. What kind of people would do that? Flogging a child to death....is that sane?

By Sun

They should have done that last week!! What a stupid reporters and camera crews!

By George Powers

News Flash-- The story is about
Egypt not Anderson,Katie or Brian.I watch the news for the news not the nitwit with the mic. The mute button wares out first on my remote anyway.

By J Lea

Sounds like Fight Club over there.

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