George Kahmazian Released after Payment of Ransom
Lebanese citizen George Kahmazian, who was abducted in Baalbek on Thursday, has been released after the payment of a ransom to his kidnappers, the state-run National News Agency said.
NNA said Kahmazian was set free at dawn Friday after the abductors were paid a 12,000 dollar ransom.
Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) said, however, that the man was released near the entrance to the town of al-Taybeh without the payment of a ransom.
Kahmazian was kidnapped by gunmen riding a yellow Toyota FJ Cruiser and a white Grand Cherokee, who intercepted his gray Cherokee Laredo near the Dar al-Ajaza al-Islamia center in the Baalbek region town of Shlifa, NNA said Thursday.
The agency said Kahmazian's brother Ara received a phone call from the kidnappers, who asked for a $50,000 ransom.
Several residents of Douris and relatives of Kahmazian blocked the town's entrance with burning tires, cutting off the route that leads to Baalbek and northern Bekaa to protest the abduction.
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