BOSTON — The man who abducted a Boston Pentecostal pastor and two others in Egypt said on Sunday that he has had conversations with intelligence officials about their release.
Jirmy Abu-Mashu told The Associated Press that he kidnapped the Rev. Michel Louis and two others between Cairo and Mt. Sinai on Friday, and he is demanding that police release his uncle from prison. He said his uncle was jailed when he refused to pay a bribe to police.
He said two intelligence officials visited his home on Saturday to negotiate the captives' release. During the meeting, he said, he relocated the pastor and the two other captives, a 39-year-old Boston woman who was traveling with the church group and a tour guide. He said he returned the three to his home when the officials left.
The 61-year-old pastor, who is diabetic, left his medicine on the bus and security officials will have to help with getting it, Abu-Mashu said. He said Michel was tired and sleeping a lot.
Abu-Mashu said his imprisoned uncle is diabetic and claimed his relative was not getting the medical assistance he needs.
Meanwhile, a senior U.S. official said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton brought up the kidnapped Americans' case when she met with her Egyptian counterpart in Cairo on Saturday.
Louis was on a church trip with 23 other members of the clergy and worshippers when he was abducted.
Louis' son, the Rev. Jean Louis, said on Sunday that his father had natural medicine to treat his diabetes when he was taken, but he had no other information about his condition.
