The push comes after
authorities received confirmation that the trio was still in the area
where they were abducted. Their detention was intended to bargain the
release of relatives in custody of Egyptian authorities, EgyNews
reported.
Security sources
"confirmed that continuous efforts are being made in order to determine
the whereabouts of the Americans and the Egyptian tour guide on one
hand, and to release them in coordination with tribal leaders and the
families in the region," EgyNews said.
The tourists and their guide were kidnapped Friday in the Sinai region of Egypt, authorities said.
Bedouin kidnappers want
authorities to release a relative who is in detention in Alexandria on
drug charges, said Gen. Ahmed Bakr, head of security in the North Sinai.
Kidnappings and armed
robberies have increased since a popular uprising ousted Egypt's
long-ruling dictator, Hosni Mubarak, last year.
In February, two American
tourists were kidnapped and immediately released in the Sinai region.
The same thing happened in June, when two American tourists were
released about a day after they were abducted.
In the most recent
incident, Bedouins stopped a tour bus en route to Taba and kidnapped the
two tourists -- a man and a woman -- and their guide, Bakr said.
Authorities are trying to negotiate with the kidnappers, he said.
In a message posted on
Twitter on Friday, the U.S. Embassy in Cairo said it was "in close touch
with Egyptian authorities, who are doing everything they can to bring
about safe release of the American tourists."
