2 U.S. tourists abducted in Egypt freed

The Rev. Michel Louis (left) of the Free Pentecostal Church of God in Boston, and Lissa Alphonse of Everett, Mass., were abducted (along with an Egyptian guide) in the Sinai Peninsula. / AP Photo, Family of Rev. Michel Louis; WBZ

Last Updated 1:39.p.m. ET

(CBS/AP) Two American tourists and their Egyptian guide who were kidnapped in the Sinai Peninsula on Friday have been released, the U.S. Embassy in Cairo has confirmed to CBS News.

Rev. Michel Louis, 61, a Boston pastor, and Lissa Alphonse, 39, of Everett, Mass., had been abducted, along with their guide, Haytham Ragab, as their tour group was traveling on a church trip to Mount Sinai.

The hostage-taker, an Egyptian Bedouin named Jirmy Abu-Masuh, told the Associated Press that he had handed the three over to security officials near the northern Sinai city of el-Arish on Monday after he was promised that authorities were working on his uncle's release.

"We are a people of mercy and they don't have anything to do with this," Abu-Masuh said, referring to the Americans.

Gen. Ahmed Bakr, head of security in North Sinai province, confirmed the release and said the three were now in the protection of security officials in Sinai. In Washington, State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell also confirmed their release and thanked Egyptian authorites.

Abu-Masuh had said he would not free the two Americans until his uncle was released from jail. He said his uncle was detained for refusing to pay the police a bribe.

Abu-Masuh also vowed to take more hostages, of different nationalities, if his demands were not met.

Tourists' captor to hold "guests" until uncle free
U.S. confirms 2 Americans kidnapped in Sinai

Egyptian officials said earlier on Monday they would not release the uncle until he completes a 15-day prison sentence for possession of drugs.

The abduction took place along the road linking Cairo to the sixth-century St. Catherine's Monastery, located at the foot of Mount Sinai where the Old Testament says Moses received the stone tablets with the Ten Commandments. The route is a frequent target by Bedouins who abduct tourists to pressure police to meet their demands, usually to release a detained relative they say has been unjustly arrested.

Louis, a Presbyterian pastor, was on the trip with his wife, Fredrick Gladys Louis, who was on the bus with him at the time and remained in Egypt afterward waiting for his release, their son, Rev. John Louis, said.

"She witnessed the whole thing, so you can only imagine," he said. "She's a fervent woman of God ... she told us to tell everybody that everything is going to be alright."

The family was concerned that the 61-year-old pastor was unable to take his diabetes medication with him when he got off the bus. His family said he takes natural medication, not insulin.

Ragab, 28, told the AP on Friday from the captor's phone that he and the two Americans had been fed a roast lamb and were staying at Abu-Masuh's home in the harsh mountain terrain of central Sinai.

Officials say the captives were held 2 miles from Egypt's border with Israel.

Louis said he had been contacted by Massachusetts senators Scott Brown and John Kerry. Separately, a senior U.S. official said Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton brought up the American's case when she met with her Egyptian counterpart in Cairo on Saturday.

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[melbatom]

You can bet one thing, the new ruler of Egypt for political reason would have told the ones taking captive USA people that if not released immediately his people would come and destroy them. It did not take long for the new president of Egypt to protect his public image nor for the nuts in the outland to react knowing that he would wipe them out for acting without his approval. Good Show!

[Aseriesguy]

Hey, boys, say goodbye to the Egyptian tourist business.

[formerlyluvnut]

Most times if ya look for trouble you will find it. Good luck...morons.

[JoeMontana44]

These guys are very lucky and will learn a lesson for the rest of their lives. Unfortunately there are still so many misguided left wingers who spit at America and decry the plight of Islamic peoples by the West, when these guys will kidnap you, rape you and kill you, even if you're there to help them. And if you don't think so, then go on a "tour" of these countries. You won't come back alive.

[guyfrompa46]

Here's an idea.. Stay in the USA,.

[LVwidow]

Amen. I don't understand "touring" in countries where one knows ahead of time that there is unrest in that country. When will Americans get it? No touring, hiking or visting when you know damn well there is a chance of being kidnapped. I don't get it.

[BillyBonebrake]

You go to places like Egypt and you might get yourself seriously killed.

[Jame_Gum]

How long will it take for this criminal to be imprisoned for kidnapping?

[LCCLYDE]

There are some non-fanatics,if this wouls have been al-qaeda we might have just got their heads back.Then a Navy seal team would have had to kill about 3000 bedouin for pay-back.Smart move on this kidnappers part.