Ayman Sawwan Freed after Clashes in Brital Outskirts

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The abductee Ayman Sawwan who hails from Bekaa's Saadnayel was freed Tuesday evening in the Bekaa town of Brital, which ended a two-day kidnap ordeal that sparked major tensions in the province and road-blocking protests in his hometown.

“Sawwan has been released and handed to army intelligence agents and he is on his way to the Ablah barracks ahead of being handed over to his family,” state-run National News Agency reported.

A delegation from the Sawwan family had visited Brital and met with some of its dignitaries.

“Following intensive investigations and raids by army forces in the northern Bekaa region, Lebanese citizen Ayman Sawwan was freed this evening and handed over to the intelligence directorate which conducted the investigations to unveil the circumstances of the kidnap operation,” the army said in a statement.

Earlier on Tuesday, clashes broke out between the army and wanted suspects on the outskirts of Brital, reported MTV.

LBCI television said that the clashes erupted as the army was searching for Sawwan.

The army arrested a number of members of the Masri and Tleis families during the raid.

The abduction had led to unrest in Sawwan's hometown and prompted its residents to kidnap seven public van drivers in retaliation.

The army had raided Brital on Monday in search of the captive.

The seven drivers were released on Monday as a goodwill gesture towards the kidnappers.

Also on Tuesday, Sawwan's brother Khaled held a press conference to push the government to take efforts to release his loved one.

He stressed: “The residents of Saadnayel do not seek to create trouble. We will stage peaceful rallies to show that no one can meddle with its residents.”

A cleric at the conference warned of the eruption of strife over the abduction, urging the state to take action "immediately before the situation gets out of hand."

M.T./Y.R.

Comments 24
Thumb EagleDawn 09 September 2014, 10:42

HA never shoots at the army never ever!

Thumb _mowaten_ 09 September 2014, 12:14

who spoke of HA here?

you're such a useless propagandist with your broken records.

Thumb galaxy 09 September 2014, 14:09

This Tleis terrorist is a well known member of HA. He even carries a membership card.

Thumb _mowaten_ 09 September 2014, 15:27

Oh anonyme.
always jumping to things i supposedly said in another place, another context. almost seems like you have nothing to say but you still desperately insist on trying to whitewash eagledown's idiotic comments.

EVEN IF (which is not the case but i'm going to humor you) i had made such empty accusations elsewhere, you should have answered me then and there, instead of coming here to defend eagledown when he's doing, according to you, the same i did.

Thumb _mowaten_ 09 September 2014, 15:29

and to be clear about arsal, i never said the numerous attacks kidnappings and executions were committed by m14, i said they were committed by ISIS/nusra and pointed out how m14 tried to cover up their presence in arsal for years.
if instead of denying and crying wolf when ghosn warned about alqaeda infiltrating arsal they had done something, or at least allowed the army to do something, we would be here today.

Thumb _mowaten_ 09 September 2014, 15:31

typo above, obviously meant to say "we *wouldnt* be here today"

Thumb _mowaten_ 09 September 2014, 18:37

nice story bro, but facts are stubborn. as soon as ghosn warned about alqaeda in arsal all of m14 directed their fire against him. he was accused of anything and everything, trying to help assad, trying to randomly persecute the residents of arsal and so on... in a country like lebanon the state/army cannot do anything without a minimum of consensus. ghosn cannot unilaterally take action, there needs to be at least a cabinet decision (blocked by miqati) or national consensus (shattered by m14) or at least a decision by the commander in chief of the army (denied by sleiman).

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2011/Dec-27/158014-ghosn-stands-firm-on-charge-of-al-qaeda-infiltration.ashx

"Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn stood firm Monday on his statement that al-Qaida members were entering Lebanon under the guise of Syrian opposition activists, rejecting March 14 criticism that his remarks aimed to serve the regime of embattled Syrian President Bashar Assad."

Thumb _mowaten_ 09 September 2014, 18:38

"In a TV interview, Daher expressed regret that Ghosn and some government officials prefer “the interests of the Syrian regime at Lebanon’s expense.”

He said Sleiman’s statement on terrorism contradicted Ghosn’s remarks which reflected “a lack of responsibility and disregard of the country’s interest.”"
"Another Akkar Future MP Mouin Merhebi called on the government to disavow Ghosn’s statement on the presence of al-Qaida members in Arsal"

"Also, President Michel Sleiman’s remarks yesterday were contrary to Ghosn’s statement"

Missing hammouds 10 September 2014, 02:44

Eagledawn..its as if you want it to be Hezb so you can prove a point that does not exist. Even if there are Tleis family members who happen to be members of Hezb, or even if this kidnapper in particular was Hezb, it doesn't mean it was under the direction of Hezbollah. Hezbollah's biggest threat is fighting a sectarian war inside Lebanon, and surely if it ever became public that it was indeed Hezb, it would only work against them. Therefore, one can only include that it was not Hezbollah

Thumb kataebi1965 09 September 2014, 11:05

disgusting nation , disgusting clans . Everybody shoots on the army ? Car thieves , kidnappers , extortionists and murderers stay in Brital , the army should go in full force in there and not tip toing

Thumb cityboy 09 September 2014, 11:28

Lol nice try. Another exagerated headline gets you peeps all excitid for nothing other than to come on here and rant your usual hate.

Thumb _mowaten_ 09 September 2014, 12:16

more like kiriet shmono

Thumb cityboy 09 September 2014, 12:33

LOL FT, almost had to give you thumbs down for that oversight.

Thumb geha 09 September 2014, 13:22

either amal or hizbushaitan are covering these outlaws of brital, so yes, they are responsible for all the terrorism and abduction that is coming from that area.

Missing hammouds 10 September 2014, 02:46

Geha. That's beyond ludicrous.

Default-user-icon سام (Guest) 09 September 2014, 14:37

معك كل الحق لأن الحقيقة جارحة يا سيد جحا

Thumb EagleDawn 09 September 2014, 20:00

It happened in Japan because they do not have a cancer called flamethrower and his likes who call for gasing people, nuking lebanese villages, and dissolving his political opponents in acid baths. Now you are lecturing on morals mr. filth himself.

Missing .karim-- 09 September 2014, 22:06

Great story, jihadist terrorist.

Thumb Tony.Farris 09 September 2014, 22:33

The Syrian Electronic Army trolls are in full force today!!!

Thumb Tony.Farris 09 September 2014, 22:28

@fmaahn +100

Thumb Tony.Farris 09 September 2014, 22:34

Your ASSad belong in the ZOO...

Thumb Tony.Farris 10 September 2014, 00:10

Look who's talking; an Iranian agent want to change Lebanon...

Missing hammouds 10 September 2014, 02:45

We basically already have a couple of those. Theyre just currently competing against one another

Thumb liberty 10 September 2014, 06:53

he is not a smart ass, he is an ass.