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Egypt: Germany Negotiating Hostages' Freedom


Egyptian officials say negotiations continue with kidnappers for the release of a group of foreign tourists and their Egyptian guides.

Tourism Minister Zuhair Garana said Tuesday that German officials are in contact with the kidnappers, who are holding five German, a Romanian and five Italian tourists, and eight Egyptians traveling with them.

Garana says the hostages are in good health.

The kidnappers are reported to want millions of dollars in ransom.

Egyptian officials say bandits kidnapped the tour group on Friday while it was on a desert safari in a desolate region near Egypt's borders with Libya and Sudan.

Some Egyptians officials say the group was taken into Sudan. But the Reuters news agency quotes a Sudanese official as saying that is unlikely because of security along the border.

Kidnappings of foreigners are rare in Egypt, although militants have killed many people in bombings and shootings at tourist sites.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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