Relatives of Hostages Say Cabinet Ready to Tackle Demands of Abductors

The families of Arsal captives said Monday that they received assurance on the cabinet's readiness to discuss all demands set by the Islamist gunmen to ensure the safe release of their loved ones.

The relatives stressed that al-Mustaqbal Movement chief Saad Hariri promised to follow up the case with the concerned officials, pointing out that he pledged not to neglect the case.

They described the meeting with Hariri at the Center House as “positive.”

“Any price that the kidnappers want the government is ready to tackle... including a prisoners swap,” the families told reporters, reiterating the importance of secrecy.

However, a dispute occurred between the members of the committee representing the families of abducted servicemen over the opening of Riad al-Solh square in downtown Beirut.

The dispute prompted one of the family members to declare that the committee representatives only express their own point of view.

Hariri expressed his full support to the crisis cell, stressing that negotiations should be solely limited to the state and its institutions.

He described in a statement issued by his press office the hostage case as “humanitarian and national,” adding that he will exert all efforts to ensure the release of the kidnapped men.

Media reports had said that Qatar's mediation to release the servicemen abducted by Islamist gunmen have intensified in recent days as General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim expressed his satisfaction with the course of the negotiations.

A number of soldiers and policemen were abducted by al-Nusra Front and Islamic State group gunmen in the wake of clashes in the northeastern border town of Arsal in August.

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

The captors are demanding the release of Islamists held in Lebanon as a condition to set them free.

H.K.

G.K.