The bus was carrying 30 employees of Sinai Cement who
were dumped before the hijackers fled with the vehicle.
Police have stepped up security in the area to try to
find the culprits. An official at Sinai Cement, the local unit of France's
Vicat , said the firm was not immediately aware of the hijacking.
Nomadic Bedouins complain of neglect by the government
and say they do not see benefits from economic growth in Sinai. They say tough
conditions have led some of their people to resort to smuggling and other
activities the state considers criminal.
Police detained thousands of Bedouins after a series of
bombings at tourist resorts in south Sinai in 2004-2006. Relations were
strained, with sporadic clashes with security forces.
Analysts say the government has now changed tactics,
releasing some detained Bedouin and promising economic opportunities to leaders
to secure their allegiance as they hunt tribesmen involved in smuggling and
migrant-trafficking.
The government has promised more development
opportunities, including setting up an oil services company to develop Sinai
and promising to hire half the staff from the Bedouin.
