Charbel Responding to Nasrallah: We are Holding Direct Negotiations with Pilgrims' Kidnappers

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel indirectly criticized on Thursday Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's recent call on the government to hold negotiations with the kidnappers of Lebanese pilgrims held in Syria's Aazaz region.

He said ahead of a cabinet session at the Baabda Palace: “The state is holding direct negotiations with the abductors.”

Nasrallah had stated a few minutes ahead of the session that the government “has not exerted enough efforts to resolve the case of the pilgrims.”

He suggested that it adopt a different approach through holding direct negotiations with the kidnappers.

“Where's the problem in that? It is done all over the world,” he noted.

The Hizbullah leader also proposed that the government appoint an official to hold negotiations with Turkey to end the abduction of the nine pilgrims.

In May, 11 Lebanese pilgrims were kidnapped in Syria's Aleppo province as they were making their way back by land from pilgrimage in Iran.

Two of the pilgrims have since been released on separate occasions, while the rest remain held in Aazaz.

The families of the pilgrims have held Turkey responsible for the ongoing abduction, saying that it wields the greatest influence in this issue.

They had threatened to take escalatory measures against Turkish interests in Lebanon, but have since called off this measure at Charbel's request.