Miqati after Meeting Ozyildiz: Lebanon Exerting Efforts to Uncover Fate of Pilots

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati stressed on Tuesday that the Lebanese government is exerting efforts to uncover the fate of the two Turkish pilots, who were kidnapped two weeks ago on the airport road.

Miqati, according to a statement released by his press office, reiterated after talks with Turkish Ambassador to Lebanon Inan Ozyildiz that the Turkish authorities should press negotiations concerning the nine Lebanese pilgrims held in Syria's Aazaz.

The Turkish Airlines pilots were kidnapped on August 9 when gunmen ambushed a bus carrying the national airliner's crew from Beirut airport to a hotel in the city.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said after a cabinet meeting on Monday that the two pilots are alive, and that their whereabouts are known.

A previously unknown group calling itself Zuwwar Imam al-Rida claimed the abduction, and demanded that Turkey use its influence with Syrian rebels it backs to secure the release of nine Lebanese Shiites kidnapped in Syria in May 2012.

Lebanese authorities have arrested three suspects and charged them in connection with the abduction.