Berri Denies Kidnapped Pilgrims Executed, Preaches Patience

Speaker Nabih Berri sought on Monday to appease the angry families of Lebanese pilgrims kidnapped in Syria, saying sources from the Syrian opposition and Turkish officials have confirmed that they are still alive.

In remarks to several Beirut dailies, Berri said reports and “rumors” that the 11 men, who were kidnapped in the northern province of Aleppo last week, were executed are baseless.

“They are still alive and are in good health. This is confirmed by sources in the Syrian opposition in addition to Turkish officials,” the speaker added.

He also slammed statements allegedly issued in the name of the families of the abductees that target relations with Turkey and seek to increase the divide among the Lebanese.

“Patience is the key to the happy outcome,” Berri said in a message to the families.

Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour also denied that Lebanese authorities had received any requests from the kidnappers, whose identities are not known yet.

He warned against issuing rumors that the pilgrims had ties to any political party or that U.S. intelligence agencies had interfered in the case to delay their release.

Mansour also urged the media to be accurate.