Salam Declares Qatari Help in File of Abducted Soldiers: We Will Not Surrender

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

Prime Minister Tammam Salam announced on Sunday that Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has been exerting efforts to help free the abducted Lebanese soldiers, stressing that negotiations with “blood” will not make the government surrender.

“Anger is immense but we should know that sedition, which terrorists seek, could be taken advantage of by ignorant individuals and weak souls. It is the entrance to ruin our national peace,” said Salam in a speech addressing the Lebanese.

On Saturday, several pro-jihadist Twitter accounts published gruesome pictures apparently showing Islamic State militants beheading one of the abducted Lebanese soldiers who were held captive in the clashes in the northeastern town of Arsal in August.

The beheading comes around ten days after the same group executed captive army sergeant Ali al-Sayyed.

The pictures triggered massive protests and angry people blocked several roads and burned tires in various areas.

“What happened in the streets of Lebanon in the last few days harmed the cause of the martyrs and our kidnapped soldiers. It could have led the country to dangerous repercussions,” he stated, adding that blocking roads and obstructing the country will not bring the soldiers back.

“Although the pain is immense, allowing terrorism to infiltrate out national structure is much more agonizing. It is what the criminals want,” he stressed.

In reference to the Islamist jihadists, he added: “They only understand the language of slaughter, but we will not panic and our intent will not weaken. We will stay united and determined to get our sons back.”

“We are not in a position of weakness, we have several power cards. Contacts are continuing based on the latest cabinet session which set the rules not to swap any inmates, but to use international channels for negotiations with the kidnappers.”

Slamming all reports claiming that Qatar did not engage in the negotiation efforts to free the soldiers, Salam extended gratitude to Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani for his adamant efforts to help Lebanon overcome this ordeal.

“The enemy is not a traditional one, it caused us much pain and we are all required to have faith in the government and its ability to manage this thorny file,” he concluded.

D.A.

M.T.

Timeline
  • 07 September 2014, 20:08

    Salam: Let the families of the abducted soldiers know that the army will never give up on its soldiers.

  • 07 September 2014, 20:07

    Salam: I thank all the countries and i thank his Highness Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim for his continuous effort to help Lebanon overcome this ordeal.

  • 07 September 2014, 20:07

    Salam: We are not in a position of weakness. Contacts are continuing based on the latest cabinet session which set the rules.

  • 07 September 2014, 20:06

    Salam: They only understand the language of slaughter, but we will not panic and our intent will not weaken. We will stay united and determined to restore our sons back,

  • 07 September 2014, 20:05

    Salam: Although terrorism is very painful but allowing it to infiltrate our national structure is much more aginizing.

  • 07 September 2014, 20:05

    Salam: The Lebanese must pass this difficult test and the politicians must realize how difficult this moment is.

  • 07 September 2014, 20:04

    Salam: What happened could have pushed the country to dangerous results. Blocking the streets will not bring our sons back.

  • 07 September 2014, 20:03

    Salam: From the first moment of the terror campaign against Lebanon the Lebanese were able, despite their divisions, to curb the repercussions of such acts and prevent strife in the country.

  • 07 September 2014, 20:02

    Prime Minister Tammam Salam in a speech addressing the Lebanese: What happened yesterday was only part of long chapters of booby-trapped cars and several clashes with the army and security forces.

SourceNaharnet
Comments 8
Missing .karim-- 07 September 2014, 20:27

Enough with the talk Salam. Declare war on these savage jihadist terrorists or step down. Pressure the kingdom of terrorism and Qatar to pressure their terrorist minions or have their diplomats arrested for promoting terrorism and endangering Lebanese national security. Enough is enough.

Thumb saturn 07 September 2014, 20:47

If only Lebanon had the balls for this...

Thumb lebanon_first 07 September 2014, 21:00

Texas. I agree with every single point.

Thumb lebanon_first 07 September 2014, 21:02

texas i didnt know that there was a deal with army about allowing ISIS Nosra to get out of arsal with prisonners.

I think army let them out to save civilian casualties- not as part of a deal.

Thumb lebanon_first 07 September 2014, 21:41

texas. thanks for the info. Didnt know that.

Thumb lebanon_first 07 September 2014, 21:04

terrorist. unfortunately you are right. In 2 years, 3 years, 5 years maybe, Daesh will be part of history. However HA will still be sucking on the blood of Lebanon.

Default-user-icon Eli (Guest) 08 September 2014, 05:04

The Lebanese politicians are traitors and have sold their souls to the Persians and the Arabs.

Missing idris_gray 08 September 2014, 15:40

I love how the word terrorist is so freely thrown around these days. All these governments that either engage in or are complicit in mass murder and torture yet they call anyone that opposes them terrorists. What a world we live in.