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Egyptian Islamists

threaten to

kidnap Americans

CAIRO: Egypt's main Islamist group the Jamaa Islamiyya is considering kidnapping Americans to win the freedom of its jailed spiritual leader Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, a Jamaa leader said in a newspaper interview on Sunday.

"The kidnap of Americans to exchange them for the Sheikh is under consideration," Mustafa Hamza told the Arab dail Al-Hayat from exile in Afghanistan.

"We have already warned the United States via our communiques. The issue depends on our capabilities and the right circumstances for getting what we want, Hamza added.

Abdel Rahman was jailed for life in the United States in January for his role in plotting a vast terrorist campaign against US targets and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

The Jamaa Islamiyya (Islamic Group) on Thursday escalated its violent campaign against Mubarak's government by gunning do 18 Greek holidaymakers near the pyramids, mistaking them for Israelis, and warning all foreign tourists to get out of Egypt.-AFP