Mustafa Hujeiri: Negotiations to Release Arsal Captives are Going Well

Sheikh Mustafa al-Hujeiri revealed that he has sensed “for the first time” that negotiations to release the servicemen kidnapped from the northeastern border town of Arsal are being conducted seriously, reported the Kuwaiti daily al-Rai on Sunday.

He told the daily: “The negotiations are heading on a good path and we hope to reach a conclusion that would please the families of the captives.”

“Each side has its demands,” he added.

He stressed however that he can only speak on behalf of negotiations with the al-Qaida-affiliated al-Nusra Front.

Hujeiri said that he is not informed on the talks with the Islamic State group kidnappers.

The servicemen were abducted from Arsal by the al-Nusra Front and IS in the wake of clashes in August.

A few of them have since been released, four were executed, and the rest remain held.

The hostage-takers had warned several times the Lebanese authorities that they would kill more captives if they did not meet their demands.

Among their demands is the release of Islamist prisoners in Lebanon.

Meanwhile, the spokesman of the families of the captives, Hussein Youssef told al-Rai that reports that the hostages will be released soon “are inaccurate.”

He added however: “The negotiations had come to a halt at one point, but they have since gone back on the right track and they are now on a relatively positive level.”

“Given these factors, we hope that the servicemen will be released soon,” he stated.

“The negotiations are not bad and therefore their release is possible if they continue in such a manner,” Youssef remarked.

The family of abducted soldier Abdul Rahim Diab revealed on Saturday that it visited him in the outskirts of Arsal, describing his condition as “tragic.”

The family said that the visit occurred on Wednesday, refusing to disclose further details.

M.T.