Two Brazilian women are kidnapped in Egypt

AFP - Agence France-Presse
Agency Brazil
Published: 18/03/2012 13:07 Update: 03/18/2012 15:08
Bedouin Egyptians kidnapped Sunday two young Brazilian touristsin the Sinai Peninsula, the third such case in 2012 involving touristsin the region. Women returning from a visit to the historic monasteryof Santa Catarina, in southern Sinai, when the men announced the kidnapping, according to sources of security services. The Foreign Ministry this afternoon confirmed the isolation of the sample.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Egyptian authoritiesare negotiating the release of the Brazilian, with the help of the Embassy of Brazil in Cairo, capital of the country. According to the Foreign Ministry, a bus with several Brazilians on board wasattacked by Bedouins and the two women were taken. The vehiclewas approached in the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, authorities said.

The security forces were unable to establish contact so far with the kidnappers to find out their requirements, but believe that criminalswant the release of other Bedouins arrested for releasing thetourists. In February, Bedouin kidnapped three South Korean tourists in the same region, shortly after a similar crime against twoAmerican and one Egyptian guide, with the requirement for release of detained comrades.

The tourists and the guide were freed quickly and unharmed, as well as 25 Chinese workers were kidnapped in January. The sparsely populated region is home to most Egyptian resorts, while it is thedwelling place of much of the Bedouin population poor.

Since the revolt that toppled President Hosni Mubarak last year, the region of the Sinai area became even more violent, with attacks onpolice stations and frequent outbursts against pipelines that carrygas to neighboring Israel.