Report: Prisoners Swap Deal with Jihadists Reaches Breakthrough

Negotiations over the release of Lebanese soldiers and policemen abducted by jihadists, who briefly overran the northeastern border town of Arsal in August, reached a breakthrough, al-Liwaa newspaper reported on Monday.

According to the daily, the mediation carried out by the Qatari-appointed negotiator, Syrian Ahmed al-Khatib, succeeded in easing several complications.

Sources told the daily that the Lebanese authorities received further guarantees that jihadists affiliated to the Islamic State and the al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front will not execute any servicemen.

However, al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Monday that negotiations still have a long way to go.

The newspaper said that al-Khatib will end his mediation, without citing the reason.

However, General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim denied the report after a meeting with Prime Minister Tammam Salam at the Grand Serail on Monday.

“Negotiations are ongoing and the Qatari-appointed mediator didn't withdraw," he added.

Sources had previously denied in comments to al-Akhbar that negotiations reached a dead-end despite a cut in communication with jihadists for the past 17 days.

The Nusra has said that the three-month hostage crisis would end if 10 inmates held at Lebanese prisons would be freed for each hostage or seven Lebanese inmates and 30 female prisoners held in Syria would be released for each abducted soldier and policeman or if five Lebanese and 50 women inmates would be freed.

The group added that the swap with the prisoners held at Syrian prisons should take place in Turkey or Qatar, while the exchange with the Lebanese authorities should take place on the outskirts of the northeastern border town of Arsal.

The cabinet had previously totally rejected any swap deal with the jihadists.

For its part, the IS group has announced its readiness to release the Lebanese soldiers and policemen in its captivity, if the Lebanese state sets free five Islamist inmates in return for each captive.

H.K.

G.K.