Govt. Stance on Swap Not Final, Ibrahim to Seek Release of Syrian Women Prisoners
The Lebanese government has not given the greenlight for a swap deal with al-Nusra Front, a source said on Sunday, as media reports said General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim will seek the release of a number of Syrian women prisoners from the regime's jails.
“The members of the ministerial crisis cell were informed of al-Nusra's suggestions, but they are yet to take a stance on the proposals,” LBCI television reported in the afternoon.
“The cell will convene in the coming hours to give its feedback on the suggestions to the Qatari envoy, who would then carry the answer to the outskirts of (the northeastern border town of) Arsal,” where the militants of the Qaida-linked group are entrenched, LBCI added.
Sources close to al-Nusra told the TV network that “the proposals made by the Front are not different than those put forward by the Islamic State group and they are not new.”
“The negotiators were in the picture (of the demands) but they had not been submitted in written form,” the sources added.
Al-Nusra “has not yet given the names of prisoners or detainees it wants released for two reasons: the first is that it is awaiting a clear response from the Lebanese government on the swap deal, and secondly it does not want to disclose these names over concerns that some of them might be implicated in problems should the negotiations fail, especially that not all of them are members or supporters of the Front,” the sources said.
Meanwhile, MTV said the families of the captive Lebanese troops and policemen are awaiting the outcome of the ongoing negotiations and “the return of the Qatari mediator to Arsal's outskirts, which might happen today.”
“Maj. Gen. Ibrahim will play a key role by negotiating with the Syrian regime to secure the release of women prisoners from Syrian jails” as demanded by al-Nusra, MTV added.
A source informed on the case had said in comments published in al-Mustaqbal newspaper on Sunday that the IS and al-Nusra had only handed the main negotiator in the case the names of 45 to 64 inmates, whom they want released in exchange for the abducted servicemen.
“The Lebanese state has not yet given its final decision regarding the matter,” the source said.
The source pointed out that there are differences between the offenders who have been tried and those who are waiting for their trials.
Al-Nusra and the IS group have been holding several troops and policemen hostage since August 2, when they overran the northeastern border town of Arsal and engaged in bloody clashes with the army.
The two groups have since executed three troops and threatened to murder more hostages if Lebanese authorities didn't fulfill their demands.
Sources close to Prime Minister Tammam Salam refused to comment on the matter, stressing the importance of “secrecy” to guarantee the safety of the soldiers and policemen.
On Saturday evening, the Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front handed over a Qatari negotiator the list of names of inmates held at Roumieh prison, who it wants released in exchange for the captive servicemen.
The group said on its twitter account that the Lebanese government has “agreed in principle on a swap deal.”
The group added that the swap with the prisoners held at Syrian prisons should take place in Turkey or Qatar, while the exchange with the Lebanese authorities should take place on the outskirts of Arsal.
The cabinet had previously totally rejected any swap deal with the jihadists.
There are hundreds of Islamist inmates in Roumieh prison awaiting their trials. They were reportedly involved in terrorist acts, including planning suicide attacks, belonging to terrorist groups and other charges.
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