AsiaNews.it
Sinai, 25 Chinese workers kidnapped by Bedouin released
The news was confirmed by the Chinese embassy in Cairo, but not by the Egyptian government. Employed in a cement plant owned by the military, the 25 workers were kidnapped on their way to work. Currently no details on the dynamics of release.
Cairo (AsiaNews) - 25 Chinese workers kidnapped by a group of Bedouins to Lehfen, in the northern Sinai have been released it was announced today, by the Chinese Embassy in Cairo. A statement read that the hostages are hospitalized at a military base near area were they were released. However, the Egyptian government has not yet confirmed the news or made public the dynamics that led the kidnappers to release the hostages.
Employed in a cement plant owned by the Egyptian army, the 25 were kidnapped by a group of armed Bedouins on their way to work. Shortly after the kidnapping, the group of issued a message calling for the release of 5 comrades arrested in 2004 for the bombing of the Taba resort on the Red Sea that claimed 31 victims.
With the fall of Mubarak leaders of the Bedouin tribes have stepped up their attacks on oil pipelines, gas pipelines and infrastructure built in the area by the regime. In recent months they have repeatedly sabotaged the pipeline between Egypt and Israel. This is causing a revision of the investment by foreign companies, especially Chinese who have no scruples in sending their workers to unstable regions. In recent days another group of 29 Chinese workers were kidnapped in Sudan.