Gunmen kidnap 2 U.S. tourists in EgyptFebruary 3, 2012 - 16:52 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Gunmen in Egypt's Sinai peninsula have kidnapped two American women in an apparent attempt to hold them for ransom, security sources said, according to The Guardian. Security in the isolated desert region has deteriorated since the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak last February. South Sinai's Red Sea coast is a major tourism hub for Egypt. The two tourists were among a party of five travelling from Saint Catherine's monastery in central Sinai to Sharm el-Sheikh when a vehicle carrying men armed with machine guns stopped their vehicle, the sources said. The gunmen first took all the tourists' money and valuables and then, as an apparent afterthought, grabbed the two women, forced them into their vehicle and fled into the mountains, the security officials said. Two army and police search parties have gone into the area to try to track them down, the officials have said. Bedouin in the Sinai, who complain of neglect and discrimination by the authorities in Cairo, have attacked police stations and blocked access to towns to show their discontent and press for the release of fellow tribesmen from prison. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | About 173 million drams and more than 30 beneficiary funds. "The Power of One Dram" is 4 years old In June 2020, the exclusive joint corporate social responsibility initiative of Idram and IDBank "The Power of One Dram" was launched. CSTO budget “to be adjusted due to Yerevan’s non-payment of contributions” The CSTO budget for the current year requires adjustments due to the refusal of Yerevan to pay their share of contributions. Russia sends note of protest to Armenia over envoy’s trip to Ukraine’s Bucha Russia has sent a note of protest to Armenia over the visit of Vladimir Karapetyan and Tigran Ter-Margaryan to Bucha. Armenia: Protesters march to parliament, some spend the night on street The protesters did not disperse despite heavy rain that began at around 2 a.m. local time. |