Gunmen Intercept Bishop's Convoy, Demand Release of Kidnapping Suspect

Gunmen intercepted on Monday the convoy of a bishop who was traveling in his convoy from Bkirki to Deir al-Ahmar, reported the National News Agency.

It said that the assailants, riding in three vehicles, halted the convoy of Bishop Khalil Alwan and Father Elie Nasr to demand the release of a suspect held in a recent kidnapping case.

The gunmen demanded that the bishop deliver a message to Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi to pressure authorities to release the wife of detainee Mohammed Dora Jaafar.

She was arrested at the Dahr al-Baidar checkpoint in connection to the abduction of Marc al-Hajj Moussa last week.

Moussa was abducted by armed men at dawn Thursday on a road in the Metn town of Mazraat Yashouh while on his way home in Bikfaya.

He was released on Saturday after his family paid the captors a ransom of 350,000 dollars.

M.T.

Y.R.