SNC Points Finger at Lebanon over Kidnappings

The opposition Syrian National Council on Tuesday accused the Lebanese authorities of failing to act over a wave of kidnappings and arrests of Syrians in Lebanon and accused some political parties of complicity.

"Syrians in Lebanon have been abducted by political parties, and subject to arbitrary arrests by security agents, without the authorities so much as lifting a finger," the SNC said, implicitly blaming Hizbullah which is closely allied with the Damascus regime.

The SNC claimed that some 36 Syrians had been kidnapped in Lebanon over the past few days.

The Lebanese authorities "have ignored the fate of the abductees so far, giving those involved the opportunity to kidnap others using the excuse that there are Lebanese detainees in Syria," it said.

Last week, al-Meqdad family’s, previously unknown, military wing claimed it had kidnapped around 20 Syrians in retaliation for the abduction of a family member, Hassan Salim al-Meqdad, by allegedly the Free Syrian Army, which accused him of being a Hizbullah sniper.

Many more were reportedly seized as rioters went on the rampage in Beirut, attacking shops and cars belonging to Syrians.

The Iran- and Syria-backed Hizbullah denied any connection with the clan member or the kidnappings.

Hizbullah chief Hassan Nasrallah insisted last week that the group cannot control the "reactions" of people to the events in Syria.

The SNC also said Lebanese army intelligence on Monday raided the home of a Syrian humanitarian activist and arrested two of his colleagues, and also arrested a Syrian lawyer.

The unrest has fanned fears that the 17-month conflict in its much larger neighbor could further destabilize Lebanon.