US tourists kidnapped, released in Egypt

Cairo - Two American tourists and their Egyptian guide were kidnapped by local tribesmen in Egypt on their way back from a local monastery, but were later released unharmed, media reports said.

The three people were travelling with three other tourists from Saint Catherine's monastery on Mount Sinai when they were abducted at gunpoint from a minivan, AKI reported citing the website Sinai Today.

Sinai security chief Mohamed Naguib told Xinhua the two Americans were released after talks between the kidnappers and security forces.

He said he did not meet the kidnappers' demands to release their relatives involved in drug trafficking but promised to study the case.

Masked gunmen travelling in a mini-truck blocked the road and robbed them of their mobile phones and watches, and also grabbed the pistol of the security guard accompanying them, Egypt's official news agency MENA reported.