Captive Policemen Contact Relatives, Urge Families to Mobilize to Release Hostages
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
A policeman abducted by Islamists from the northeastern border town of Arsal contacted his wife on Saturday, reported al-Jadeed television.
It said that Ziad Omar telephoned his wife and urged the families of the captives to mobilize to ensure the captives' release.
He added that the hostages are being treated well.
Omar is being held by al-Nusra Front, said al-Jadeed.
Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) later reported that captive Pierre Geagea contacted his wife.
LBCI television said that Geagea and another captive, George Khazzaqa, had contacted their relatives on Saturday morning, urging them to mobilize to pressure for their release.
He urged the families of the hostages to mobilize, stage rallies, and pressure Hizbullah to withdraw its fighters from Syria.
A number of soldiers and policemen were abducted in August in light of clashes between the army and Islamists in Arsal.
Some of the captives were released at different stages, while the rest remain held by Islamists from al-Nusra Front and Islamic State.
The government tasked earlier this week a ministerial panel to follow up on the case.
Qatari mediators have become involved in the negotiations to release them.
The families of the captives however have refused to meet with the panel.
On Thursday, they called on Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji to “arrest all ministers and swap them for the abductees.”
“We want our sons, with or without an exchange, and we all throw our support behind the army chief and we hope he will fulfill our demand,” they said.
The extremists are reportedly seeking to exchange the soldiers and policemen for Islamists held in Roumieh prison.
06 September 2014, 15:46
311
they have been treated well have they, except sayyed who was mercilessly beheaded. i hope lebanon gets these people back, it seems the corrupt politicians would be working harder had they been assir or hezbollah members.
06 September 2014, 16:27
112
Eliminate interference with other countries business by disarming every Lebanese and have a strong iron fist army is the solution. No one should be allowed to carry a gun except the ISF and army.
ISF handles internal matters and the army guards the borders.
06 September 2014, 16:44
111
I would say reach an exchange deal to get our soldiers back with the political decision to strip all the released prisoners from their Lebanese citizenship (if they are Lebanese)and to export all of them outside the country (Lebanese or not).
We can always arrest more of them (or their families/supporters) at any time in the future if they threaten the State again.
Our soldiers are precious and victims of our Government's negligence of their proper arming, training and political bickering.
06 September 2014, 17:49
83
Is anyone surprised that this group, Nusra would use hostages as agents and provocateurs in their own cause, to play on the sensitivities of the families of the hostages to agitate for advancement of the hostage takers' agenda. It is a violation of the Geneva Convention, but then, so is cutting people's heads off with dull knives.
For the sake of the nation, these people cannot be dealt with, but must be removed from Lebanese territory by any means necessary.
06 September 2014, 18:26
09
Of course the families will do all they can to release their loved ones...the media has a responsibility to not become the tool of these terrorists.Reporting Al Nusra as if they are some righteous syrian rebel group...They are Al Qaida! They are allied with ISIS! Any messages released by the captive LAF or ISF are released by al nusra for a reason. The Lebanese Government cannot negotiate or release prisoners in exchange for the terrorists captives because it encourages them to kidnap more in the future!
May God give strength to the captives and their families.... We all pray for their safe release and if a payment by a foreign country ensures their release then so be it.The murder of the LAF and ISF prisoners will be the wrong move! Release them and retreat to Syria and don't make the mistake of involving Lebanon. Lebanese christians are not syrian or iraqi or egyptian. Read a book and learn from history that there is a reason Lebanon's mountains always echo with church bells!
06 September 2014, 22:02
00
the one that threaten to silence those church bells was the free sunnis of baalbak brigade a hezballlah syrian michel samaha like propaganda tool to sow sectarian strife and hyped by alakhbar and otv, that's irrefutable.
