Egyptian authorities say masked gunmen have kidnapped two American female tourists and their local tour guide in the Sinai Peninsula.
The head of south Sinai security, Muhammad Naguib, said the attack occurred on February 3 near St. Catherine's Monastery, while the tourists were preparing to return to the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
Naguib said the attackers also stole weapons from a police car that was accompanying the tourists' minibus.
The attack came days after Bedouins in the central Sinai Peninsula kidnapped 25 Chinese workers on January 31.
The Chinese were released about 15 hours later.
Egypt has faced deteriorating security in the wake of the popular uprising that ousted President Hosni Mubarak nearly one year ago.
Compiled from agency reports