Two American hostages released from Egyptian Kidnappers, officials say

Two American hostages and their Egyptian tour guide have been released after they were held captive for three days by Egyptian kidnappers, a security official said on Monday. General Ahmed Bakr, head of security in northern Sinai, said, “They are at security headquarters with us now, in good condition. The negotiations succeeded, but we did not give in to the kidnappers’ demands.”

The two Americans told CNN they were relieved and happy. “We are heading directly to Israel to join the members of our church as soon as we get our passports sent to us from Cairo,” said Michael Louis, the pastor of a Pentecostal church in Boston. “I tell my family I am in good health and in good spirits, but I have not taken my medicine since Friday, so I am a little tired.” Family members of Louis, who has diabetes, said the two Americans and their guide were taken hostage on Friday when gunmen boarded their tour bus, which was on its way to Israel. Since a popular uprising ousted Egypt’s former dictator Hosni Mubarak more than a year ago, robberies and kidnapping have increased.