Abbas Ibrahim Expresses Hope Nine Pilgrims to be Free Soon

General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim expressed hope on Saturday that the case of the abducted nine Lebanese pilgrims, who were being held in Syria's Aazaz region, would reach an end soon.

Ibrahim rejected to go into details in remarks published in As Safir newspaper, pointing out that negotiations are ongoing.

“We must complete the process of the release,” he said.

Ibrahim returned to Lebanon on Friday after a short visit to the Turkish capital Ankara and the neighboring country Syria to leave again after hours to Turkey.

The remaining point of contention lies in whether the nine pilgrims should be released at one go or at different intervals.

For his part, Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel reiterated in comments published in the Kuwaiti al-Seyassah newspaper that there is no specific date set for the release of the men.

But he expressed relief over the matter.

Eleven Lebanese pilgrims were kidnapped in Syria's Aleppo region in May 2012 as they were making their way back to Lebanon by land from pilgrimage in Iran.

Two of them have since been released, while the rest are being held in the Aazaz region.

Their relatives have repeatedly held Turkey responsible for their ongoing abduction and they have held protests near Turkish establishments in Lebanon in order to pressure Ankara to exert more efforts to release their loved ones.