LEAD: Two US tourists freed in Egypt after brief abduction

Feb 3, 2012, 18:05 GMT

Cairo - Two US tourists were Friday released hours after they were abducted by gunmen in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, according to the Egyptian Tourism Minister Fakri Abdel Nour.

He told dpa that the two women had arrived in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh after their release.

'I talked to them on the phone and they said they are in good health,' he added. 'They were not hurt by the kidnappers.'

The official declined to give details about the circumstances surrounding their release.

The two were seized by the masked gunmen from a bus carrying five tourists early on Friday, according to an Egyptian security source.

The bus was leaving the Saint Catherine monastery area when the gunmen attacked it and stole the passengers' mobiles, added the source.

The gunmen also seized weapons from a police car that was accompanying the bus, the head of security in South Sinai province, Mohamed Naguib, told dpa.

The attack came days after Bedouins in central Sinai kidnapped 25 Chinese workers who were on their way to work at a cement factory.

They were released about 15 hours later.