Militants linked to al-Qaeda have set a 5-million-euro (about US$7.8 million) ransom on two Austrian tourists they kidnapped last month and have extended a deadline for their previous demand, local press reported Monday.

The ransom amount was reported by Austria's Kurier newspaper, citing "an informed source".

Wolfgang Ebner, 51, and Andrea Kloiber, 43, were captured while holidaying last month in Tunisia.

The group had previously set a deadline of Sunday midnight for the release of ten members jailed in Tunisia and Algeria.

Meanwhile, Austrian Foreign Ministry spokesman Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal told reporters in Vienna?that every effort is being made to secure the release of the two hostages.

Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik has been in touch with the families of the captives, he added.

(Xinhua News Agency March 17, 2008)