Salam Describes Situation as 'Complicated', Criticizes Political Exploitation of Troops Abduction

Prime Minister Tammam Salam called on the families of the abducted soldiers and policemen to prevent the rival political parties from exploiting their ordeal, describing the situation as “difficult and complicated.”

“I am not asking the relatives of the abducted men to trust the government, but I am asking them not to confront it... It's not the enemy nor the aggressor,” Salam said in an interview with al-Akhbar newspaper on Wednesday.

He reiterated that no one can give them any guarantees amid the atrocities of the terrorists, considering that gunmen aim at undermining the authority of the state and destabilize the country.

“We are trying to overcome all obstacles to achieve some progress,” Salam told his interviewer, pointing out that “the case could take a long time” before it ends.

The premier stressed that the key concern is to “maintain unity among the Lebanese,” lashing out at the kidnappers for directly contacting the families of the kidnapped servicemen to turn them against the state.

He stressed that the Qatari mediation with the kidnappers is ongoing despite media reports saying that the negotiator withdrew from the case after the talks stalled.

The soldiers and policemen were abducted by Islamist gunmen in August in the wake of clashes with the army in northeastern town of Arsal.

Three of the captives have since been executed, a few were released, while the rest remain held by al-Nusra Front and Islamic State gunmen from Syria.

The families of the hostages have staged demonstrations and blocked roads throughout Lebanon to pressure the government to exert more efforts to release them.

Meanwhile, al-Liwaa newspaper reported that the relatives of the kidnapped men were planning on opening the roads during the Eid al-Adha holiday over the weekend, but they received a call from the abductors warning them that if they opened the road they will not be merciful.

An Nahar newspaper said that a meeting held on Tuesday between Salam, Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq and General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim tackled the kidnapping ordeal.

The daily said that the relatives of the servicemen were informed that the state will not allow them to block roads leading to vital facilities, including Beirut's airport and port.

H.K.

M.T.