Relatives of Aazaz Pilgrims Hold Anew Sit-In, Quarrel with ISF
The families of the Lebanese pilgrims kidnapped in Syria's Aazaz staged a sit-in on Friday near al-Azariyeh building in downtown Beirut, preventing employees of the Turkish Cultural Center and Turkish Airlines from entering their offices.
Several relatives quarreled with the policemen deployed near the Turkish Airlines office after breaking the windows of the office.
In May 2012, eleven Lebanese pilgrims were kidnapped in Syria's Aleppo region as they were making their way back to Lebanon by land from pilgrimage from Iran. Two of them have since been released, while the rest remain held in Aazaz.
Two Turkish Airlines pilots were kidnapped on August 9 after gunmen ambushed a bus carrying the national airliner's crew from Beirut's international airport to a hotel in the city.
A previously unknown group calling itself Zuwwar Imam al-Rida has claimed the kidnapping, demanding Turkey use its influence with Syria's rebels to secure the release of nine Lebanese Shiites kidnapped in Syria in May 2012.
Lebanese authorities have arrested three suspects and charged them in connection with the abduction.
Following the Turkish pilots' kidnapping, the relatives of Lebanese pilgrims held in Aazaz were quick to deny having any links to the abduction although they have repeatedly accused Turkey of being responsible for the release of their loved ones, warning that they will target Turkish interests in Lebanon in order to pressure Ankara to resolve the case.
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