Berri at Ease on Negotiations to Release Captive Servicemen

Speaker Nabih Berri expressed relief on Wednesday over the progress made in the case of the servicemen taken hostage by the al-Qaida-affiliate al-Nusra Front.

“There is an important and positive development in the case,” Berri was quoted as saying by his visitors in comments published in al-Joumhouria newspaper.

The speaker said the progress is likely to be interpreted this week.

“The crisis cell discussed the case and the negotiator is working in this regard,” Berri said, expressing hope that his endeavors would see the light.

A number of soldiers and policemen were abducted by al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) gunmen in the wake of clashes in the northeastern border town of Arsal in August.

A few of them have since been released and four were executed.

Al-Nusra Front has in its captivity 16 soldiers and policemen, while nine remain held by ISIL.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam chaired on Tuesday a meeting for the crisis cell tasked with following up on the case of the captive servicemen.

Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi, who took part in the meeting, described the developments as “positive,” as Salam stressed the importance of “keeping the developments secret.”

General Security chief Major General Abbas Ibrahim expressed optimism, saying the “latest discussions were comforting but didn't reach the required results yet.”

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