KHARTOUM: Sudanese forces were besieging a remote desert hide-out yesterday where bandits are holding 19 people captive, including European tourists, but said they would not storm the area.
The tourists, along with Egyptian drivers, guides and a guard, were snatched by masked gunmen on Friday as they were on a desert safari to view prehistoric art around Gilf El-Kabir in southwestern Egypt. They were then taken to Sudan.
A Sudanese official said the hostages were alive and that negotiations were continuing with the kidnappers, who have reportedly demanded a ransom of up to $15 million. “Our aim is to help secure their release unharmed as quickly as possible,” Ali Yousuf, director of protocol at the Foreign Ministry told AFP.
Elderly travelers in their 70s are among the five Italians, five Germans and a Romanian being held in the desert, where daytime temperatures can hit 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) even in September.
“The hostages are all well, according to the information that we have,” Yousuf said. He said Germany was in contact with the kidnappers, but Berlin has not commented on its role beyond saying it has set up a crisis group.
Authorities only became aware of the abduction on Monday when the tour group leader phoned his German wife to tell her of the ransom demand.
