Armed Bedouins Storm Sinai Resort

Some 70 armed Bedouins are reportedly holding employees of a Sinai resort hostage, demanding over $650,000 in ransom for their safe release.

The incident likely stems from growing discontent over Bedouin exclusion from the new Egyptian government that took shape after Hosni Mubarak's ouster last year. Last week, some Bedouin leaders protested "forged parliamentary elections" while threatening armed confrontation with those in power.

"We will not allow a parliament without Bedouin representation... forged through the alliance between the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces and a certain Islamic party," said one tribesman.

According to a CNN report, Bedouin militants may be in possession of a significant arms cache, including hundreds of surface-to-air missiles, which they allegedly smuggled out of Libya after the fall of Muammar Qaddafi.

"We have declared war against the military and will not wait for them to kill us all," exclaimed one Bedouin leader.

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