Mashnouq: No Negotiations with Kidnappers before Written Pledge Not to Kill Captives

Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq stressed that the state will not carry out negotiations with the Islamist kidnappers of servicemen abducted from the northeastern border town of Arsal until it receives a written pledge that they will not be harmed, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Saturday.

He told the daily: “We will not hold negotiations until they issue a clear statement that they will halt killing the servicemen.”

“I have relayed this position to the Muslim Scholars Committee, headed by Sheikh Salem al-Rafehi, and we are waiting for their clear response,” he added.

“We will see what will happen once the Islamic State and al-Nusra Front issue the required statement,” he stated.

“There is no room for extortion over the blood of the kidnapped soldiers and policemen. Their case has not been abandoned,” declared Mashnouq.

Moreover, the minister refused to go into the details of the latest efforts to release the captives who were abducted by the Islamists in August after they had overrun the town of Arsal.

Four of the servicemen have since been executed, a few were released, while the rest remain kidnapped.

The Muslim Scholars Committee had recently demanded that it be granted official authorization by the state to hold negotiations with the extremists to ensure the safe release of the captives.

Mashnouq said that it is too soon to comment on the proposal until the kidnappers issue their statement vowing not to harm the servicemen.

M.T.

D.A.