Salam Says Efforts over Hostages Ongoing Quietly as Scholars Voice Optimism

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Prime Minister Tammam Salam on Sunday said that a ministerial panel tasked with following up on the issue of the abducted troops was pressing on with its work “away from the media spotlight,” as the Muslim Scholars Committee promised “good news.”

During a high-level security meeting at the Grand Serail, Salam expressed relief over the release of five hostage soldiers on Saturday, hoping the ongoing efforts will soon lead to the freeing of the rest of captive army soldiers and policemen.

He stressed that the ministerial committee will carry on with its work “persistently, patiently and away from the media spotlight, in order to end this national tragedy as soon as possible.”

The conferees were then briefed by the chiefs of security agencies on the security situations across all Lebanese regions, “especially in Arsal, where non-Lebanese gunmen deployed in the mountains are still posing a threat,” a statement carried by the National News Agency said.

“An exhaustive discussion took place regarding all the security information and the measures that should be taken to bolster stability,” the statement added, noting that “the appropriate decisions were taken.”

Meanwhile, several media outlets quoted Muslim Scholars Committee sources as saying that “the reports coming from Arsal's plains are promising and we might hear good news soon.”

The Committee had managed to broker a ceasefire following days of deadly clashes between the army and jihadist gunmen in and around Arsal in early August. It also tried to secure the release of the captive troops before suspending its mediation, citing difficulties.

The Committee later voiced its willingness to resume the negotiations.

Before entering the security meeting, Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi said “delicate efforts are underway in a manner that would preserve the state's dignity and return all the security personnel.”

For his part, Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq told al-Jadeed that negotiations could soon lead to the release of “two Christian security personnel.”

On August 2, jihadists from the Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front and the Qaida breakaway group Islamic State overran the Bekaa town of Arsal after clashes erupted with the army over the arrest of Imad Jomaa, a militant leader.

The fighting ended five days later but the two groups kidnapped around 36 Lebanese soldiers and security forces from the town.

Five of them were released on Saturday.

Earlier on Sunday, al-Nusra Front threatened to “kill the Shiite Lebanese soldiers” it had kidnapped should Hizbullah intervene in battles in Syria's Qalamun region.

The group said in a statement that it will wage a battle to “liberate” Qalamun in a few days.

Hizbullah has been taking part in the fighting in Syria for over a year now, arguing that its participation is necessary to protect Lebanon from extremist groups. The Syrian regime forces, backed by Hizbullah, seized control of most of Qalamun in April.

Y.R.

Comments 1
Default-user-icon hello (Guest) 01 September 2014, 12:51

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