Estonian Ministry Sends Videos of 7 Kidnapped Men to their Relatives
A video of seven Estonians kidnapped in Lebanon in March has been sent to their relatives, after two earlier videos were posted on the Internet, the Baltic nation's foreign ministry has said.
"A third video showing all seven Estonians kidnapped in Lebanon was sent to some relatives of the kidnapped via their email addresses three weeks ago," ministry spokeswoman Minna-Liina Lind told Agence France Presse on Friday.
"We will not comment on what was said in it, because the video was sent to relatives this time and not posted publicly. But we can confirm that all seven Estonians are shown in the video," she added.
The seven Estonian men, all in their 30s, were kidnapped on March 23 shortly after entering Lebanon on a bicycle tour from Syria.
The case has remained shrouded in mystery.
Several people have been arrested in Lebanon in connection with the kidnapping but it is still not clear who ordered it, or where the hostages are being held.
The Estonians were shown appealing for help in videos posted on the Internet on April 20 and May 20.
In the first, they called on the leaders of Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and France -- but not Estonia -- to help them. But they did not present any demands on behalf of their captors.
Sources say that investigators have determined that the video was uploaded in the Syrian capital Damascus, leading to speculation that the men were moved across the border from Lebanon.
In the second video, they renewed their appeals for help, criticizing their government for abandoning them and saying they were in "great danger.”
Source: Agence France Presse
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