The abduction came in wake of several warnings by Israel that foreign
nationals were under threat throughout Egypt. The Israeli warning focused on
Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, where Al Qaida and Hizbullah were said to be
cooperating.
Officials said the tourist group kidnapped in a military zone in Aswan
was comprised of five Germans, five Italians, eight Egyptians and a
Romanian national.
By late Sept. 22, Egypt reported that all of the captives were freed.
But on Sept. 23, the Tourism Ministry acknowledged that the Europeans were
still being held.
Accounts of the abduction and the government response varied. Egyptian
government spokesman Magdi Rady said the European tourists were taken to
Sudan. Rady said the Egyptian government was not conducting talks with the
abductors.
"There is no direct contact with the kidnappers," Rady said. "All the
contact is indirect through the tourist company."
But Egyptian Tourism Minister Zuhair Garana said the government had
located and contacted the abductors. Garana did not confirm the whereabouts
of the hostages.
"Negotiations are now under way with the abductors on a ransom to
release the hostages," Garana said.
In New York, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abu Al Gheit announced the
release of the hostages. Abu Al Gheit stressed that the abduction was not
related to Islamic insurgents.
"They have been released, all of them, safe and sound," Abu Al Gheit
said. "It was a group of gangsters."
Hours later, Garana said the captors had raised their ransom demands for
their hostages from $6 million to $15 million. The minister said Germany has
been in contact with the abductors.
"Information from Egypt indicates that the situation is unchanged,"
Garana said.
