Sudan retracts claim that tourists’ kidnappers are Egyptians
September 24, 2008 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government reversed its earlier claim on the identity of the individuals who kidnapped 11 Europeans tourists near the borders.
However, today the Sudanese official said that the nationalities of the kidnappers “remain unknown”.
Egypt on the other hand insists that kidnappers consist of 3 Sudanese and a Chadian national.
Meanwhile Sudanese forces have closed on the area where the tourists and the Egyptian are being taken hostages.
Sudanese officials emphasized that there is no intention of engaging with the kidnappers “to preserve the lives of the hostages”.
The daily Al-Hayat newspaper quoting unidentified sources as saying that the German government has initiated contact with the kidnappers who reportedly asked for $15 million as ransom.
The newspaper said that the negotiations are focusing on the ransom amount.
The tourists were taken at gunpoint last Friday while they were camping near the Sudanese border, Egyptian officials said.
Five Italians and five Germans, one Romanian are among those kidnapped.
(ST)
