Charbel Reveals Ibrahim Will Start Contact over Swap Deal, Considers Pilgrims Videotape 'Positive Initiative'
Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel received on Monday the names of 371 Syrian women detainees to be exchanged with the Lebanese pilgrims abducted in Aazaz, revealing that General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim will start his contacts with the Syrian side over the swap.
"I have received from Ibrahim the list of the 371 Syrian women detainees and I have examined the names in it,” Charbel said in a released statement.
He noted: "Ibrahim will start his contacts with the Syrian side over swapping the women detainees for the Lebanese hostages in Aazaz.”
Earlier on Monday, the caretaker Minister described the release of a video for the abducted Lebanese pilgrims as a “positive initiative” by the kidnappers.
“We expect to receive the list of names of the Syrian women imprisoned by the regime within 48 hours,” Charbel said in comments published in the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat.
He pointed out that General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim will contact Syrian authorities after the Interior Ministry receives the names of the detainees to negotiate their release, denying that Lebanese authorities was handed over the names.
Charbel expressed hope that the case would end shortly.
The men, who have been held hostage in Syria since May last year, appeared in a videotape over the weekend as their families warned that they "do not want to see any Turk" in Lebanon after May 22 should Turkey fail to secure the release of their loved ones.
They said the video dated to April 30.
Earlier this week, the pan-Arab television al-Mayadeen reported that the abductors have demanded the release of 282 women detainees from Syrian prisons.
Eleven Lebanese pilgrims were kidnapped by armed rebels in Syria's Aleppo region as they were making their way back home by land from a pilgrimage to Iran on May 22.
Two of them have since been released, while the rest are still reportedly being held in the town of Aazaz.
The families of the pilgrims have held Turkey and Qatar responsible for their ordeal, while accusing the Lebanese government of not exerting enough efforts to secure their release.
They have held daily sit-ins to press for their demands to set the nine men free.
Asked if Lebanese authorities contacted the Syria regime concerning the matter, Charel said: “I think the regime would cooperate and we will face no problems.”
“We must be handed over the list of names,” Charbel added.
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