EgyptAir hijacker asking for release of prisoners in Egypt

CAIRO: The hijacker of an EgyptAir airplane that was diverted to Cyprus on Tuesday has asked for the release of female prisoners in Egypt, the Cyprus state broadcaster reported.

All but seven people on board the aircraft, which was traveling from Alexandria to Cairo, have been released.

The pilot had reported that the hijacker was strapped with explosives, but Egyptian authorities have not confirmed this.

Egypt´s Civil Aviation Minister said seven people including three passengers remained on board an EgyptAir plane.

Sherif Fathy declined to give the nationalities of the passengers still on the plane.

He also declined to identify the hijacker.

Egyptian state TV had earlier named a passenger as the hijacker but his colleague later told Reuters he was one of the victims.

Egypt is sending a plane to Cyprus to pick up stranded passengers, some of whom had been traveling from Alexandria to Cairo for connecting flights abroad.