Charbel Denies 7-Day Period to End Kidnapping Operations across Lebanon
Interior Minister Marwan Charbel denied on Monday that he gave a seven-day deadline for the end of the kidnap-for-ransom phenomenon in Lebanon, pointing out that a political agreement is necessary to control arms spread across the country.
“I have stated previously that the cabinet agreed on supporting the efforts exerted by the security agencies to free all the abductees,” Charbel said in comments to Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3).
Media outlets quoted the minister as saying after a cabinet session last week that “there will be no kidnappings in Lebanon after seven days.”
He confirmed media reports saying that security forces identified two local kidnap-for-ransom networks, that include mostly Lebanese nationals, in the eastern Bekaa valley.
However, he noted that “the two gangs don't coordinate their operations.”
VDL reported on Friday that armed forces have discovered two separate networks based in the Bekaa involved in the kidnap-for-ransom operations.
Charbel said that “the release of Ali Ahmed Mansour in exchange for ransom doesn't mean that the culprits will evade police hunt.”
Mansour was freed at dawn after his family negotiated with the kidnappers and decreased the ransom to 600,000 dollars after demanding a $15 million in exchange for his release.
Mansour was abducted last week by unknown assailants on the junction of the town of Gaza in Western Bekaa.
Charbel said he urged politicians to agree on controlling arms spread across the country.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://naharnet.com/stories/en/54617 |