Three Egyptian policemen and four soldiers, who were kidnapped in Sinai were released on Wednesday, the army said.

Three Egyptian policemen and four soldiers, who were kidnapped in Sinai were released on Wednesday, the army said.

"The seven security personnel have been released by their kidnappers in Sinai," military spokesman Ahmed Aly said in a statement carried by Egypt's official MENA news agency.

Their release comes "as a result of efforts by Egyptian military intelligence in coordination with tribal leaders in Sinai," Aly added.

The conscripts, seized at gunpoint last week as they were returning from a leave of absence, were due in Cairo later on Wednesday.

Shortly after the news of the release, the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip reopened.

Rafah had been closed for five days by Egyptian police angered by the kidnapping of their colleagues.

President Mohamad Mursi was expected at the Almaza airforce base, where a host of officials including the ministers of defense and interior were preparing to welcome the seven, presidency sources said.

Egyptian troops and policemen had begun sweeps of north Sinai on Tuesday.
The kidnappers were heavily armed with SAM anti-aircraft missiles and heavy machineguns, Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim said.

He said on Tuesday there were no negotiations with the kidnappers, who were demanding the release of jailed Bedouin militants, but tribal leaders were working to persuade the gunmen to release the hostages.

Authorities had raised the state of alert in hospitals and emergency services ahead of a possible showdown with the kidnappers.