Six Egyptian policemen and a border guard kidnapped by suspected militants in the Sinai Peninsula last week were freed by their captors Wednesday after successful mediation, the country's military spokesman said. The release followed a security buildup and a massive show of force by the military in northern Sinai, which borders the Gaza Strip and Israel. The seven men were let go in the middle of the desert in the early hours Wednesday, and some have already spoken to their families by telephone, according to officials and state TV. Col. Ahmed Mohammed Ali, the military spokesman, said on the army's official Facebook page that the release came about as a "result of efforts by military intelligence, in cooperation with the honorable tribal leaders and Sinai residents." The seven were on their way to Cairo following their release, Ali was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. State TV said President Mohammed Morsi, the defense minister and other senior military officials would receive them in the Egyptian capital later in the day. Morsi thanked the armed forces, security agencies and the people of Sinai for their efforts to secure the release of the men, the TV reported.
