A US diplomat has pressed Cairo to respect "basic rights and freedoms", warning that Egypt's stability and economic recovery were at stake, as a court opened a trial of Al-Jazeera journalists.
Australian journalist Peter Greste, pleaded not guilty to terror charges on Thursday and the Cairo court adjourned the trial to March 5 to provide a translator for him and to hear prosecution witnesses.
The December 29 arrest of Al-Jazeera English's acting bureau chief Mohammed Fahmy, an Egyptian-Canadian; Australian award-winning correspondent Greste; and Egyptian producer Baher Mohamed sparked an outcry from international media, rights groups and journalist advocacy organisations.
Washington, whose ties with historic ally Cairo have cooled in recent months, has previously reprimanded Egyptian authorities for the trial of 20 journalists of the Doha-based television news network.
"The government's targeting of journalists and others on questionable claims is wrong and demonstrates an egregious disregard for the protection of basic rights and freedoms," a State Department official said.
"All journalists - regardless of affiliation - must not be targets of violence, intimidation or politicised legal action. They must be protected and permitted to freely do their jobs in Egypt."
The journalists are accused of supporting the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood and broadcasting false reports, after police shut down Al-Jazeera's Cairo offices following president Mohamed Morsi's overthrow by the army in July.
"We remain deeply concerned about the ongoing lack of freedom of expression and press freedom in Egypt," the State Department official said, stressing that Washington was "closely watching" the trial.
"If Egypt's leaders want to ensure a political transition that moves Egypt's long-term stability and economic recovery forward, they must respect rights and freedoms for all Egyptians - including freedom of expression, press and assembly."
