Kidnapped US tourists have been released

US women tourists with their Egyptian Guide have been release. There were kidnapped in Sinai Peninsula by Bedouin tribesmen according to officials. The tourists along with their guide were travelling

in a bus to Red Sea resort of Sharm el-sheikh from St Catherine’s monastery earlier on Friday, they were stopped by gunmen. Officials later confirmed that the kidnappers were Bedouin tribesmen and had demanded to free their recently arrested companions.

The US tourists were travelling from St Catherine when a vehicle full of armed masked men forcefully stopped the bus. The armed men deprived the tourists off their belongings before grabbing the two women with their Egyptian guide and left the three other tourists behind. Their nationalities were not known at the time.

According to the security forces the kidnapped tourists and their guide had been released after several hours. Head of Security for northern Sinai, Maj Gen Mohammed Naguib told the press that the kidnappers were Bedouins and were demanding the recently arrested fellows who were caught on robbery and drug smuggling charges. The Bedouins agreed to free the tourists after negotiation between the officials and tribal leaders.

The US women had spoken to Munir Fakhri, Egyptian Tourism Minister, and told him that they were in good health.

Before the incidence Bedouins also kidnapped 25 Chinese workers earlier this week in Northern Sinai, but released them after a day. Bedouins were demanding to free their fellow tribesman who was sentenced after a bomb attack at Taba resort in 2004 that killed more than 30 people.