Report: Gunmen kidnap 2 U.S. tourists in Egypt's Sinai region – CNN's Ben Wedeman reports

(CNN) - Gunmen kidnapped two American tourists Thursday in Egypt's Sinai region and demanded the release of a man arrested a day earlier for drug possession, authorities said.

The tourists, both 31, were in a car headed to a hotel from the town of Dahab when they were stopped, state-run Ahram newspaper said.

The U.S. Embassy in Cairo said it is aware of the kidnapping.

"We are working closely with Egyptian authorities to resolve this situation," said Katherine Sweet, an embassy spokeswoman.

CNN's Ben Wedeman reports on the latest in the story this morning on "Early Start."

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