Naharnet

Ibrahim Promises to Resolve Case of Hundreds of Lebanese Missing in Syria

General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim has revealed that he would seek to reopen the file of Lebanese held in Syrian jails and resolve the case of the two bishops kidnapped in Syria.

In remarks to As Safir newspaper published on Tuesday, Ibrahim said that he had promised Lebanese political and religious officials to seek the release of Bishops Youhanna Ibrahim and Boulos Yazigi, who were kidnapped in Syria at the end of April.

He stressed that he had also promised them to find a closure to the fate of hundreds of Lebanese thought to be held in Syria since the end of Lebanon's 15-year civil war.

Ibrahim said his mission lied in implementing the orders of President Michel Suleiman and Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel.

He told As Safir that the release of the nine Lebanese pilgrims after 17 months of captivity in Syria was “an achievement for every Lebanese citizen.”

The achievement “does not belong to any sect or area,” he said, adding that “we should take pride in our state.”

The nine Shiite pilgrims, who were kidnapped by rebels in May 2012 while on their way from Iran to Lebanon via Turkey and Syria, were set free late Saturday as part of a deal that also saw the release of two Turkish Airlines pilots, who were abducted in August in Beirut.


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