19 people who were kidnapped earlier this week in Egypt were transported to Libya

Reports indicated on 25 September 2008 that the 19 people who were kidnapped earlier this week in Egypt were transported to Libya. The nationalities of the tourists and kidnappers are currently unknown, but they are believed to be from either Chad or Egypt. The tourists were moved approximately 9 mi/15 km inside the Libyan border early on 26 September. The director of protocol at the Sudanese foreign ministry stated that the hostages remained unharmed and were most likely moved due to the shortage of water within the area. Libyan authorities contacted by news agencies refused to comment on the exact location of the hostages.