Charbel Shies Away from Confirming Abduction of Turkish Pilots by Zuwar al-Imam Rida

Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said Friday that Lebanese authorities were investigating a claim made by a previously unknown group for kidnapping two Turkish pilots in Beirut.

In remarks to Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) and several TV stations, Charbel said: “We haven't heard of the so-called Zuwar al-Imam Rida.”

The investigation will reveal whether such a group truly exists or it is “fictional,” he said.

The alleged responsibility for the kidnapping came after al-Jadeed TV reported that the group was asking for the release of nine Lebanese pilgrims kidnapped in Syria in return for setting free a Turkish pilot and copilot abducted by armed men at dawn Friday.

Their abduction took place as the van they were traveling in near Rafik Hariri International Airport was ambushed by the gunmen.

The families of the pilgrims were quick to deny any involvement in the ambush.

The Syrian rebels, who are backed by Turkey, have been holding the nine Lebanese Shiites hostage since May last year.

Despite their denial, the relatives of the hostages welcomed the abduction.

Daniel Shoaib, the brother of pilgrim Abbas Shoaib, “thanked Zuwar al-Imam Rida” for kidnapping the Turkish Airlines crew members but urged it to treat them well.

“We reject kidnappings but our relatives are facing injustice,” he told the National News Agency.