We will rescue kidnapped soldiers swiftly and safely, Morsi vows
President Morsi meets with security chiefs, vows to secure release of seven
soldiers kidnapped in Sinai Peninsula
Ahram Online , Monday 20 May 2013
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/71852/Egypt/Politics-/We-will-rescue-kidnapped-soldiers-swiftly-and-safe.aspx

Egyptian authorities will secure the release of seven kidnapped soldiers
swiftly and safely and in a manner that will maintain the state's prestige,
the office of President Morsi vowed in a statement late on Sunday.

The statement was released after President Morsi met with the Minister of
Defence, Minister of Interior, Head of the General Intelligence, Chief of
Staff of the Armed Forces, Chief of Operations of the Armed Forces and other
army officials.

Earlier on Sunday, President Morsi said "all options" remained open to
secure the release of the kidnapped soldiers, stressing that Egypt would
"not be blackmailed" by the captors.

He went on to deny the existence of differences between Egyptian state
apparatuses over the crisis, noting that there was "complete coordination"
between the ministries of interior and defence.

The president also said there would be no dilagoue with criminals, state
news agency MENA reported on Sunday.

Seven Egyptian soldiers were kidnapped in the Sinai Peninsula on Thursday,
including a member of the armed forces, four port security officers and two
state security officers.

Following the kidnapping, a security source said the perpetrators had
demanded the release of Sinai-based militants who were detained two years.

The militants were convicted of killing five security officers and one
civilian during a string of attacks in June/July 2011 on an Al-Arish city
police station and a North Sinai branch of the Bank of Alexandria. A total
of 25 individuals were charged in the case.