Hostages' location a mystery as Libya says not there (AFP)
50 minutes ago
CAIRO (AFP) - The whereabouts of 11 tourists and eight Egyptians kidnapped more than a week ago is uncertain on Saturday after a Libyan official denied reports the hostages and their abductors are in Libya.
"With research operations now finished, we can confirm that the hostages and their abductors are not in Libya," the senior official told AFP on condition of anonymity overnight on Friday.
Sudanese officials said on Saturday they are checking where they believe the hostages to be, but have no fresh information.
They could not confirm Libyan reports that the group has re-crossed the desert border back into Sudan.
"We are checking, we are working hard on that, but we have no information at present," said Ali Yousuf, head of protocol at the Sudanese foreign ministry.
However, he said the group are all reported to be well.
"They are all ok, that's the latest news," he added.
The Libyan official could not say whether the hostage-takers had crossed the Libyan border at some point or where they were late Friday.
A Libyan foreign ministry source was "surprised that Libya's name is mentioned in this case". Tripoli is not involved in the abduction or the talks with the hostage takers, the source said.
Libya condemns the hostage-taking and "does not terrify people or blackmail under whatever false pretences", the Oya newspaper quoted the source as adding in its Saturday edition.
The group was snatched by masked bandits while on a desert safari to view prehistoric art in Egypt's remote southwest on September 19.
The hostages are 11 tourists -- five Italians, five Germans, and one Romanian -- plus eight Egyptians -- two guides, four drivers, a border guard and the organiser of the safari.
The kidnappers have demanded that Germany take charge of payment of a six-million-euro (8.8-million-dollar) ransom, an Egyptian security official told AFP on Thursday.
They also want the ransom to be handed over to the German wife of the safari organiser.
Egypt locating Karak Talh. The whereabouts of 11 tourists and eight Egyptians kidnapped more than a week ago is uncertain after a Libyan official denied reports the hostages and their abductors are in Libya.(AFP/Graphic)" class="newsimage" />