Sit-In in Solidarity with Captive Servicemen as Nusra Front Appoints New Mediator

A sit-in was held outside the Grand Serail at the Riad al-Solh Square in downtown Beirut in solidarity with the families of the captive servicemen as the al-Qaida-affiliate al-Nusra Front reportedly appointed a new negotiator.

The relatives of abducted soldiers and police expressed hope in the endeavors carried out by Health Minister Wael Abou Faour to end the abduction ordeal.

“We are hopeful that you could end the case and heal our wounds,” the families said in a statement.

Abou Faour continuously headed to the protest camp of the relatives of the captives and persuaded them to open roads, vowing that the state will resolve the hostage crisis.

For his part, Shiekh Abbas Zogheib called on the cabinet to assume its responsibilities immediately.

“If this government is incapable of assuming its responsibilities then it should leaver,” he told gatherers.

The security force members were captured when the jihadists briefly overran Arsal in August, sparking fierce battles with Lebanese troops.

Four have been executed so far, and the jihadists have threatened to kill the remaining hostages unless there is a deal to free Islamist prisoners in Lebanon.

A squabble occurred during the rally when Free Patriotic Movement MP Naji Gharios was about to make his speech.

Several people demanded him to step down from the podium.

However, the fuss ended swiftly.

“The government is responsible for the case of the kidnapped soldiers, which shouldn't be discussed publicly,” Gharious stressed.

The FPM reportedly rejected the state's involvement in a prisoners swap with al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State group.

Meanwhile, al-Nusra Front reportedly tasked Shiekh Wissam al-Masri with negotiating with the Lebanese state a prisoners swap deal.

According to al-Jadeed, al-Nusra Front handed al-Masri on Wednesday a list of its demands.

Al-Masri is reportedly waiting for the state's response over the demands.

The move comes after Qatar withdrew its appointed mediator, Syrian Ahmed al-Khatib, from the negotiations last week.