afrol News, 25 September - A group of 19 hostages including European tourists kidnapped in Egyptian desert last week Friday, is said to be have been moved to Libya.

Egyptian government has announced that it has direct talks with kidnappers and negotiators are optimistic about reaching a "good outcome" soon.

Officials said efforts are continuing to negotiate their release, indicating that German authorities are now leading negotiations with kidnappers.

Captives include five Germans, five Italians, one Romanian and eight Egyptian guides.

Reports show that group had previously been taken from Egypt to Sudan and Sudanese foreign ministry official Ali Yusuf Ahmed, said hostages were safe.

Group was reportedly on a desert safari in south Egypt, near borders of Sudan and Libya, where it was seized.

Egyptian officials say kidnappers are gangsters who are demanding several million dollars in ransom money.

They are not thought to have made any political demands as yet.

Mr Ahmed reportedly said hostages were being held some 13 km inside Libyan territory. "Libyan authorities have been informed and they are now following progress of group," he was quoted as saying.

Mr Ahmed said language of kidnappers and direction they were originally taking indicated that they could be part of a rebel faction from Sudanese region of Darfur.

Roads into Darfur have been shut as a precautionary measure, he said.

Earlier this week, group was reportedly spirited into Sudan from remote Egyptian region of Gilf al-Kebir, where it was seized.

Area, which is close to chronic conflict areas in western Sudan and eastern Chad, is sparsely populated and is said to have virtually no police presence.

© afrol News

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