Kidnapped tourists are moved to Libya – Sudan
September 25, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — The kidnapped 19 tourists and Egyptians have been moved today t Libya, the Sudanese foreign ministry stated today. It also said Tripoli has been informed of this new development.
Five Germans, five Italians, a Romanian and eight Egyptians are kidnapped since last Friday while they were on a desert safari through the far southwest of Egypt. The identity of the gunmen who abducted them remains unclear.
Ali Youssef head of protocol division at the Sudanese foreign ministry said Thursday that the kidnappers and the tourists have moved to Libya. He added that they in good health conditions. Sudan had sent a force to monitor the group without putting their lives at risk.
The moved about 13 kilometers across the border he told SUNA this morning indicating they were moving further inside the Libyan territory.
Egyptian authorities said the bandits asked Germany to pay a ransom of six million euro. They further added Germany is heading negotiations through the German wife of the Egyptian tour operator who is among the missing.
An Egyptian security official has said the kidnappers are “most likely Chadian”. Sudan in afirst time said they were Egyptian but after Khartoum said the nationalities of the kidnappers “remain unknown”.
However, Ambassador Ali Youssef today said from Khartoum that Darfur rebels could be behind the abduction without further details.
But the different rebel groups dismissed the accusations. Observers say Sudan might want to use this event for political purpose.
Youssef to justify his accusations said only “there were strong evidences.”
(ST)