Report: Tough Conditions on Swap of Islamists for Lebanese Soldiers, Policemen

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

Jihadists, who are holding Lebanese army troops and policemen captive, have reportedly announced conditions for their release despite the denial of Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq and mediators.

Al-Qaida linked al-Nusra Front members have said they would release one soldier or security forces member held captive earlier this month in return for two Islamists jailed in Lebanon, al-Akhbar daily said Wednesday.

But the newspaper stressed that Islamic State group's fighters have put tougher conditions, saying they would release only one of the captives in return for 10 Islamists.

It also said that Qatar was negotiating with al-Nusra Front.

The jihadists overran the northeastern border town of Arsal on August 2 and engaged in battles with the Lebanese army that left scores dead and wounded.

The jihadists withdrew to Syrian territories a few days later after a ceasefire was brokered by Muslim scholars.

However, they took with them captives from the army and security forces. Some of them have been released in stages.

Al-Mashnouq told An Nahar that he and Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi were following up the case of the rest of the captives, whose numbers are still unclear.

He denied, however, that the militants had announced their conditions for the release of the soldiers and policemen.

“It is still early to discuss about the final results,” al-Mashnouq told An Nahar, stressing that their case was being resolved with “secrecy” and “calm.”

“Any other method would complicate the issue,” he said.

The spokesman of the Muslim Scholars Committee, Sheikh Adnan Amama, also denied in remarks to As Safir daily that the jihadists had asked for the release of specific persons from Roumieh prison.

“We are still in the stage of discussing the Lebanese government’s approval to negotiate and exchange prisoners,” said Amama.

He added that the committee has received assurances that the captives were being well treated.

G.K.

D.A.

Comments 10
Missing ysurais 20 August 2014, 09:41

Death to all syrians & palestinians terrorist groups. LEB should terminate 100 of arsal refugees for evry Leb solider being harmed....period

Thumb _mowaten_ 20 August 2014, 12:23

the problem is ISIL doesnt care about refugees, syrians or palestinians, and anyway killing innocents would only make us like them.

fact is the captured soldiers can't be far, they are somewhere between arsal and qalamoun. the lebanese and syrian armies must collaborate to track them down and execute all their captors.

Thumb _mowaten_ 20 August 2014, 16:23

Femme Abe Jurre > not an expert, just using common sense. you should try it one day.

Default-user-icon Mariama Abdalla (Guest) 20 August 2014, 13:27

If the terrorists defy the Army then the latter should hold 100 syrian for every soldier taken by the savages of Al Nosra and Daesch. This is the only way out.

Thumb charlesmartel 20 August 2014, 14:21

its about time napalm be authorised again...we need to some obliterate entire regions

Thumb tom1 20 August 2014, 16:40

Just go in and save the soldiers and kill all the terrorists. No need for this stupid negotiation.

Default-user-icon Rosa Lobato de Faria (Guest) 20 August 2014, 17:55

Southern + tom + Portugal + ... you've been a busy boy haven't you

Default-user-icon 'nuff said (Guest) 20 August 2014, 17:23

al-Akhbar daily said Wednesday. 'nuff said

Thumb charlesmartel 20 August 2014, 23:59

Great idea. The will feel wht suicide bombing is. And they will go to heaven where 70 virgins and rivers of milk and honey are waiting. Looooooollll

Thumb charlesmartel 21 August 2014, 00:01

The world is full of imbeciles simiar adjectives to imbeciles are. Paki Afghani Qatari Saudi Somali sorry lost the count. The answer to those is napalm.