Croatia: working to solve kidnapping issue

Croatia said on Wednesday it was working on solving the difficult situation after Islamic State (IS) militants threatened to execute a kidnapped Croatian in 48 hours if the Egyptian authorities did not meet their demands.

Croatian Foreign and European Affair Ministry refused to give details, saying at the sensitive moment it was not free to give more information.

The Croatian, identified as 31-year-old Tomislav Salopek, was kidnapped in Cairo on July 22 on his way to work by armed men from the Egyptian affiliate of the IS group.

In a video posted online by the kidnappers, Salopek said he will be killed unless the Egyptian government releases Muslim women held in prisons within 48 hours.

He confirmed he was married with two kids and work for French oil company Compagnie Generale de Geophysique.

It was the first kidnapping of a Croatian national abroad, according to the Croatian Foreign Ministry.