Egypt's Morsi wants arrest of Sinai kidnappers after hostages released
Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi stresses need to arrest kidnappers, provide
public with updates on Sinai operation, following release of 7 security
personnel
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/72173/Egypt/Politics-/Egypts-Morsi-wants-arrest-of-Sinai-kidnappers-afte.aspx

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi stressed on Thursday the need to continue
the operation in Sinai and arrest the kidnappers, following the release of
seven Egyptian soldiers abducted this week.

During a meeting with Defence Minister Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, Interior
Minister Mohamed Ibrahim and head of General Intel Raafat Shehata, President
Morsi emphasised that they must continue to work to detain the perpetrators,
whose identities are known to the interior ministry, according to a
statement issued earlier in the week.

President Morsi also stressed the importance of providing the public with
information concerning the progress of the operation, which is ongoing,
according to officials.

Last week, unknown assailants kidnapped seven Egyptian soldiers and released
a video showing the soldiers wearing blinders, asking for the president’s
help. The kidnappers demands were announced via one of the soldiers and
included the release of a number of Jihadist prisoners.

Several state institutions, including the interior ministry, defence
ministry, general intelligence and military intelligence, said they worked
together to free the hostages and took tentative steps until the soldiers
were released.

Details concerning these efforts were not reported. Officials insisted that
the soldiers’ rescue came without any negotiations with the militants who
kidnapped them.

However, an anonymous government source speaking to Al-Ahram Arabic-language
news website contradicted the claim, saying that mediation with the
kidnappers had taken place.

The source said the kidnapping was accidental, meaning the kidnappers were
not aiming to abduct army personnel but were pleased when the car they
stopped turned out to carry soldiers.

The source added that the kidnapping came as a result of the government
ignoring protests in Sinai against the alleged torture of a jihadist
militant serving a life sentence.

Military spokesperson Colonel Ahmed Ali said in a press conference on
Wednesday that "freeing the soldiers was only one step in our operation."

For his part, North Sinai Security Chief Samih Bashadi said security forces
would continue to combat "outlaws" in Sinai.

The Sinai Peninsula has been plagued with a chronic security vacuum and
since the 2011 revolution, witnessing frequent clashes between heavily-armed
tribal militants and security forces.

Some Sinai residents seek revenge on security forces after years of
heavy-handed security policies under Mubarak-era interior minister Habib
El-Adly, who many accused of failing to respect human rights and local
traditions.

Last Thursday's incident was the first time for soldiers to be abducted.

Tourists are frequently kidnapped in Sinai by residents who want grievances
addressed, with hostages usually released unharmed.

In August, 2012, 16 Egyptian border guards were killed in an attack by
unknown assailants.