A kidnapped group of 11 European tourists and eight Egyptians has arrived at a Cairo military airport on Monday after being freed in a military operation near the Sudan-Chadian border. The operation ends a 10-day hostage drama that took the 19 captives across a barren stretch of the Sahara Desert, including five Germans, five Italians, a Romanian and eight Egyptian guides and drivers Egyptian tourism minister Zoheir Garana said no ransom was paid for the rescue of the tourists.
"The only thing every one knows for sure right now is that there was no ransom paid for the rescue of the tourists. No ransom was paid by any country, and they have all arrived safely and were transferred to Maadi Military hospital."(Www.hXen.com) The group of 19 was seized by gunmen on September 19 while they were on a desert safari trip in a remote corner of south-western Egypt, and were later took to Sudan. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that the captives were rescued under joint governmental cooperation.
"In particular the hostage release is a result of the close co-operation with the Romanian and Italian partners. And very special thanks to the Egyptian and Sudanese authorities, with whom we've worked very closely in order to get the hostages free." Frank-Walter Steinmeier reported that half the kidnappers were killed in the rescue operation, but gave no precise number or other details on the rescue. The German Minister also said the freed captives appeared to be in good condition and should soon return to their home countries. | 