Report: Tough Conditions on Swap of Islamists for Lebanese Soldiers, Policemen

Jihadists, who are holding Lebanese army troops and policemen captive, have reportedly announced conditions for their release despite the denial of Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq and mediators.

Al-Qaida linked al-Nusra Front members have said they would release one soldier or security forces member held captive earlier this month in return for two Islamists jailed in Lebanon, al-Akhbar daily said Wednesday.

But the newspaper stressed that Islamic State group's fighters have put tougher conditions, saying they would release only one of the captives in return for 10 Islamists.

It also said that Qatar was negotiating with al-Nusra Front.

The jihadists overran the northeastern border town of Arsal on August 2 and engaged in battles with the Lebanese army that left scores dead and wounded.

The jihadists withdrew to Syrian territories a few days later after a ceasefire was brokered by Muslim scholars.

However, they took with them captives from the army and security forces. Some of them have been released in stages.

Al-Mashnouq told An Nahar that he and Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi were following up the case of the rest of the captives, whose numbers are still unclear.

He denied, however, that the militants had announced their conditions for the release of the soldiers and policemen.

“It is still early to discuss about the final results,” al-Mashnouq told An Nahar, stressing that their case was being resolved with “secrecy” and “calm.”

“Any other method would complicate the issue,” he said.

The spokesman of the Muslim Scholars Committee, Sheikh Adnan Amama, also denied in remarks to As Safir daily that the jihadists had asked for the release of specific persons from Roumieh prison.

“We are still in the stage of discussing the Lebanese government’s approval to negotiate and exchange prisoners,” said Amama.

He added that the committee has received assurances that the captives were being well treated.

G.K.

D.A.