Two American women kidnapped by gunmen in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula on Friday have been released, Egyptian State TV reported.
The Americans, aged 60 and 65, were traveling from St. Catherine's Monastery to the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh when tribal gunmen kidnapped them and their Egyptian guide.
The three were released unharmed a few hours after their capture by Bedouin gunmen, Al Jazeera reported. The BBC also confirmed that the American women were freed.
The US embassy in Cairo said it was looking into the matter to see whether the abducted persons were American or not, MENA reported.
Bedouin sources told AFP that the kidnappers were demanding the release of relatives held in Egyptian jails. Soon after the capture, South Sinai security chiefs and Bedouin elders entered talks with the kidnappers to secure the release of the hostages.
South Sinai Police Chief Major General Mohammed Naguib said a car had been sent to pick up the victims after an agreement was reached through the negotiations.
