American tourists kidnapped in Egypt

Cairo, July 14 (IANS) Two American tourists and their Egyptian guide have been kidnapped in Egypt's Sinai peninsula, Xinhua reported.

The group was abducted 5 km away from Sadr al-Hitan district in Sinai by Bedouin people related to a tribe called Turabeen, a security official said.

The kidnappers took the three to an unknown desert location in a bid to press the Egyptian authorities to release a Bedouin jailed in a prison in Alexandria.

Security officials are mediating with the tribe's leaders to release the kidnapped tourists.

This was the sixth kidnapping case in the area since February. A Singapore tourist was abducted by a group of masked gunmen in Sinai June 15.