Egypt tourists released after gun battle with Sudan troops

September 29, 2008 (KHARTOUM) – A group of European tourists and their Egyptian escorts were freed today following 10 days of conflicting information about their whereabouts and the identity of the kidnappers.

Five Germans, five Italians, a Romanian and eight Egyptians were kidnapped 10 days ago while they had been on a desert safari through the far southwest of Egypt. They were later taken by the kidnappers to Saif Mardi, near the Chadian border.

The captives were transported to a military airport in Cairo and received with flowers and medical teams. The Egyptian authorities however released little info on the details of their freedom.

The kidnappers reportedly asked Germany to pay a ransom of six million euro through a channel of communication that was established at a later stage of the operation.

But Egyptian officials denied that any money was disbursed to the kidnappers.

The turning point in the operation occurred when the kidnappers clashed with the Sudanese army leading to the death of their leader Bakheit Arkiny.

German daily newspaper Bild reported that German troops had been standing by to act but did not do so because the kidnappers had already freed the hostages.

Egyptian security sources claimed that 30 of their special forces engaged the kidnappers inside Sudan.

However, a European source speaking to Agence France Presse (AFP) cast doubt on the Egyptian version, saying that the operation appeared to be more of “a recovery” than a raid involving fighting.

Arkiny is believed to be a dissident member of Sudan Liberation Army (SLA-Unity) faction who carried out banditry on the Egyptian-Sudanese borders.

The incident will likely have a short term impact on the Egyptian tourism industry which is a main source of revenue for the Middle East nation.

(ST)