Egypt relies heavily on earnings from foreign visitors [AFP]

The tourist group was located on Wednesday in Jebel Uweinat, 25km inside Sudan near its border with Egypt.

"Their position has been pinpointed and there is co-ordination between Sudan and Egyptian authorities in this regard," Mutrief Sadiq, a Sudanese foreign ministry official, said.

The tourists, along with Egyptian drivers, guides and a guard, were snatched by armed men on Friday around Gilf el-Kabir in Egypt's south.

"There is no intention of storming into the area so as to preserve the lives of the kidnapped persons," the official said.

Another Sudanese official said negotiations were continuing with the kidnappers.

The kidnappers have reportedly demanded a ransom of up to $15 million.

Several elderly tourists, some in their 70s, are among the five Italians, five Germans and a Romanian are being held along with eight Egyptians.

Ali Yousuf, the director of protocol at the Sudanese foreign ministry, told AFP news agency: "We are in constant communication with the Egyptian, German, Italian and Romanian authorities."

Egyptian security officials have been in contact with the hostages through the Egyptian tour leader's wife, who has been speaking to her husband via satellite phone.

The tourism ministry in Egypt, which relies heavily on earnings from foreign visitors, has said it was "an act of banditry not of terrorism."

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