Hostages Families Block North Highway as Details Emerge on Prisoner Exchange

Families of Lebanese servicemen taken hostage by the Islamic State group blocked the vital highway between Tripoli and Beirut on Tuesday, amid reports that negotiations with the al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front have nearly settled on releasing several troops in a prisoner exchange.

The families blocked the key highway in both directions in the al-Qalamoun area, just outside Tripoli, declaring that the road would remain closed until 8:00 pm.

Security forces meanwhile diverted traffic to the seaside road.

Nizam Mughit, a family member of one of the hostages, said the relatives cut off the road to press authorities to unveil the fate of their loved ones.

“We blocked the road to know if the servicemen are still alive and the coming days will witness escalatory steps that will surprise them,” Mughit warned.

"The families are preparing escalatory steps that will 'burn you'. You will find us outside your doors and no one will be able to repress us,” he vowed, addressing Lebanese officials.

Earlier in the day, Mughit told Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3): “We want to wake up from the sleep of promises we are receiving,”

The protest comes amid claims by informed sources that the negotiations carried out by Qatar's mediator with al-Nusra Front officials have settled on releasing 16 servicemen in return for setting free 16 Islamists from Lebanon's Roumieh prison.

The troops and policemen were taken hostage by al-Nusra and IS militants when they overran the northeastern border town of Arsal in August last year. Four of them were executed.

The sources told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat that Qatar's envoy has promised to do all he can to bring a happy ending to the hostages file.

But his talks with al-Nusra Front's officials took a difficult turn when the militant group raised the number of prisoners it wants to be released from Roumieh to 20, said the sources.

Talks with the IS have reached a standstill because of the group's crippling demands.