Four Israeli reporters have been arrested in Egypt as anti-government riots turned violent after eight days of peaceful protests, Israel Radio reported on Wednesday.

According to foreign media the four were arrested for violating the curfew in Egypt's capital as well as entering the country with tourist visas instead of work visas.

Open gallery view Pro-government supporters, top, clash with anti-government protestors in Cairo's main square, Egypt, Wednesday, Feb.2, 2011. Credit: AP

According to Israel Radio, three of the reporters work for Channel 2 news and the fourth reporter writes for an Arabic-language news portal based in Nazareth.

The Foreign Ministry has reportedly been in contact with the Egyptian authorities for their release.

"We call on all Israeli reporters arriving in Cairo to remain alert, act responsibility and honor the place's rules," the statement issued by the Foreign Ministry said.

Also on Wednesday, foreign journalists were caught in the Cairo clashes. CNN's Anderson Cooper and two Associated Press correspondents were roughed up in the crowd.

Cooper says he and his crew were attacked by supporters of President Hosni Mubarak on Wednesday. CNN later said no one was seriously hurt.

Two Associated Press correspondents and several other journalists were roughed up during gatherings of Mubarak supporters. European papers reported that a Belgian journalist was also beaten, detained and accused of spying by unidentified people in civilian clothes.

In recent days, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked U.S. President Barack Obama and a number of other Western leaders to make it clear to any new Egyptian regime that it must abide fully by the peace agreement with Israel.

Senior Israeli officials said that Netanyahu would like the international community to make it clear to any new Egyptian leadership that will emerge that it must meet a series of conditions in return for receiving legitimacy in the eyes of the West - similar to those posed to Hamas following the Islamist movement's victory in Palestinian elections.