NEW : The captives are `` are unharmed and well fed , '' an Egyptian official says . NEW : A senior U.S. military officer tells CNN that the hostages were not killed in a raid but rather executed by militants who entered their compound with guns drawn. Security official : In a message posted on Twitter on Friday , the U.S. Embassy in Cairo said it was `` in close touch with Egyptian authorities , who are doing everything they can to bring about safe release of the American tourists . '' Bedouin kidnappers want the release of a relative held on drug charges . Kidnappings and robberies are up since longtime dictator Hosni Mubarak was ousted last year .
NEW : The captives are `` are unharmed and well fed , '' an Egyptian official says . NEW : A senior U.S. military officer tells CNN that the hostages were not killed in a raid but rather executed by militants who entered their compound with guns drawn. Security official : Bedouin kidnappers want the release of a relative held on drug charges . Kidnappings and robberies are up since longtime dictator Hosni Mubarak was ousted last year .