Free Syrian Army: Mafias Kidnapped Lebanese Pilgrims, We Will Risk Our Lives to Free them
The head of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) Riad al-Asaad condemned on Wednesday the kidnapping of Lebanese pilgrims in Aleppo on Tuesday, revealing that an investigation committee was formed in order to tackle the case, reported the Kuwaiti al-Rai newspaper in an interview to be published Thursday.
He told the newspaper: “Mafias kidnapped the pilgrims and we will risk our life to liberate them.”
He added that the Free Syrian Army has information that the “recently formed financial mafias” are behind the abduction, stressing: “We will play a role in their release.”
“A group of bandits who have taken up base along the border abducted the pilgrims and blamed the Free Syrian Army for it,” he explained.
“The FSA rejects such operations that put people’s lives in jeopardy,” he declared.
“Several sides are exploiting the developments in Syria in order to tarnish our image and that of the revolution,” noted Asaad.
He revealed that the FSA succeeded in determining the location of the captives.
Asked about Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s intervention to ensure the release of the pilgrims, he remarked: “We demand that Nasrallah distance himself from the Syrian revolution.”
“Our main goal lies in defending the Syrian people and revolt,” he stressed.
The Lebanese were kidnapped as they headed home to Lebanon from a pilgrimage in Iran and the news prompted their families and thousands of supporters to pour out into the streets of Beirut's mainly Shiite southern suburbs to demand their release.
The case has triggered fears of sectarian tensions in Lebanon over the revolt in neighboring Syria.
The news prompted their families and thousands of supporters to pour out into the streets of Beirut's mainly Shiite southern suburbs on Tuesday night to demand their release.
Protesters blocked several roads, including the old airport road, with burning tires and garbage bins.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/41174 |