Liberalguy

'Eleven tourists seized' in Egypt

At least 15 people, including 11 foreign tourists, are reported to have been kidnapped in southern Egypt.

The tourists were said to be five Italians, five Germans and a Romanian, while four Egyptians were also said to have been seized.

Local reports said the abduction, which took place near Aswan, was carried out by tribesmen or bandits.

Egypt's tourism minister said a ransom had been demanded and negotiations were under way.

A ministry statement said: "This is an act of banditry not of terrorism."

The German and Italian foreign ministries confirmed that five nationals from each of their countries were among the group.

Both said they had set up crisis teams to deal with the incident.

The German ministry said its nationals had been missing since Friday.

Egyptian media, citing security sources, are reporting that the four Egyptians taken were two tourist guides, a driver and a border guard.

Israel denial

There were unconfirmed reports that the group may have been taken across the border into Sudan.

The BBC's Christian Fraser in Cairo says there is always heavy security around key tourist sites in the area such as the Temple of Abu Simbel, close to the Sudan border.

He says Egyptian security sources believe it is likely the tourists were kidnapped while en route to a site.

They were reported to be travelling in three to four off-road vehicles.

There were initially reports that the group included Israeli tourists. But Israelis were not mentioned in later reports, and the Israeli foreign ministry denied any of its nationals were involved.

Kidnaps of foreigners in Egypt have been very uncommon in recent years.