No New Information on Abducted Estonians, PFLP-GC Denies Involvement in Kidnapping

Army intelligence and the Lebanese army are still conducting searches and sweeps of the area of the Bekaa where seven Estonian tourists were kidnapped earlier this week.

The National News Agency reported on Friday that a Lebanese citizen was arrested on suspicion of being involved in the crime.

Media reports have raised suspicions that Palestinian groups, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command (PFLP-GC) in particular, may be behind the abduction because it took place in an area under its control.

PFLP-GC official in Lebanon Ramez Mustapha denied before the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat in remarks published on Saturday that the group was involved in the crime.

“The accusation is part of a campaign aimed at targeting the group on the political, media, and security levels,” he added.

“An accusation against us targets the Resistance and is a free favor to the enemies of the Palestinian cause and Lebanon,” he stressed.

Sources said that the PFLP-GC may have made the kidnapping under an order from foreign powers.

Mustapha voiced the front’s readiness to cooperate with the security forces in order to determine the fate of the seven tourists.

Addressing allegations that the kidnappers entered the PFLP-GC’s Ain al-Baida camp, he stated: “In order for cars to enter the camp, they have to pass through army checkpoints and therefore the abductors could not have possibly passed through.”

Asked if the army may enter the camp to search it, he replied that contacts are ongoing with the army and there is therefore “no need for a search.”

Security sources meanwhile told Asharq al-Awsat that the kidnappers are still in the Bekaa region and they have not left Lebanese territory.

A security source told the Kuwaiti Al-Anbaa that members of the Fatah Intifada group may be behind the kidnapping, adding that the motives behind such an action are not clear, but they may be linked to developments in Libya.

Mustaqbal MP Jamal al-Jarrah condemned the crime saying that it is reminiscent of the kidnapping of foreigners that used to take place during Lebanon’s civil war.

“This harms Lebanon’s reputation and those behind the abduction want to tarnish the country’s image,” he stressed.

He revealed however that the security sources are beginning to achieve progress in the case.