The Sudanese Army killed on Sunday six of the kidnappers of the group of 19 people including 11 European tourists who were taken hostage in Egypt a week ago, AFP reports. Two other kidnappers were arrested. No information has been released about the condition of the kidnapped people - 8 Egyptians and 11 tourists, including a Romanian citizen.

The six kidnappers were killed following an army operation in the desert. The two who were arrested said the hostages were in Chad, where they are held by some 35 armed men.

The Romanian Foreign ministry did not confirm or deny the killing of the six kidnappers and said it was keeping permanent contact with the German and Italian Foreign Ministries to solve the crisis.