Egypt desert hostages freed after 10 day ordeal

September 29, 2008

A group of European tourists and their guides snatched by armed bandits in a remote desert 10 days ago were freed unharmed in a pre-dawn raid by Egyptian special forces on Monday, officials said. The group of 19 hostages -- five Germans, five Italians, a Romanian and eight Egyptian drivers and tour guides -- were flown into Cairo aboard an Egyptian military plane and taken for medical checks, state television said. Images.