Families of Hostages Block Saifi Road, Warn of Total Closure

The relatives of the captive servicemen blocked on Monday the Saifi road in downtown Beirut to protest the government's failure to secure the release of the hostages, vowing to resort to unprecedented measures unless the authorities take action.

“We will not stay long today but tomorrow we will move our tents from Riad al-Solh square to the Saifi road,” said one of the protesters. "We will not leave this place until our sons are released."

He accused the government of lying.

“Our step today was aimed at sending the authorities a warning because they don't have any information to appease the families,” said another protester.

“If the government does not have any serious solution, we will take unprecedented measures starting tomorrow,” he said on behalf of the families.

“We took to the street after receiving information that the negotiations have stopped,” the protester added.

The road closure caused bumper-to-bumper traffic and trapped commuters in their vehicles for more than an hour.

The Lebanese soldiers and policemen have been held captive since August last year.

Militants form the Islamic State group and the al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front kidnapped the servicemen after they overran the northeastern border town of Arsal.

They later executed four of them.

G.K.

M.T.