Armed Bedouins have freed two American tourists and their guide hours after kidnapping them during a trip to Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.

Egyptian security officials said the three had been taken Friday as they tried to make their way from the historic St. Catherine's Monastery to the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. They said the Bedouins had been demanding the release of some tribesmen arrested earlier in the week on drug charges.

Egyptian officials did not disclose any additional details about the release, but a Bedouin source told Reuters that Egyptian authorities had agreed to some of their demands.

Bedouins have longed complained about discrimination and neglect at the hands of Egyptian officials. Friday's incident is just the latest in a series of similar kidnappings that have taken place in recent months.

The incidents have been seen as a blow to Egypt's tourism industry, which has been hurt by the country's political turmoil.