Nasrallah Urges Calm over Kidnap of Lebanese in Syria, Says in Contact with Key Regional States
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah urged restraint on Tuesday after a group of Shiite Muslim Lebanese men were kidnapped by rebels in Syria while returning home from a pilgrimage in Iran.
"I call on everyone to show restraint," Nasrallah said in televised address after protesters blocked roads in Beirut’s southern suburbs to condemn the kidnap operation.
"It is not acceptable for anyone to block roads or carry out violent acts," said Nasrallah.
"There is no use in cutting roads and we fear that someone might try to stir a problem with the army or other parties. I urge the residents of Dahiyeh and all areas not to block roads," Hizbullah’s leader added.
Nasrallah spoke after families of those abducted, along with thousands of supporters, turned out in Beirut's mainly Shiite southern suburbs to demand the release of the men.
The protesters blocked roads in the Beirut southern suburbs of al-Kafaat, Bir al-Abed, Shatila and al-Msharrafiyeh.
They also blocked the old airport road and the Jlala-Chtaura road in the Bekaa Valley.
But roads were reopened and protesters left the streets following Nasrallah’s call.
State-run National News Agency put the number of those abducted at 13.
“The operation is totally condemned and the priority is to seek ways to resolve the issue and I stress that the case is being followed by me and Speaker Nabih Berri and that we are addressing the issue with the highest level of responsibility,” Nasrallah said, addressing the families of the abductees.
Nasrallah said contacts were underway with Syrian authorities and “influential countries in the region” to ensure the safe release of the men.
"We will work day and night until those beloved are back with us and hopefully ... by cooperating together we will reach a happy ending," he said.
He added that Hizbullah was also in contact with Prime Minister Najib Miqati.
"The Lebanese state and government have a responsibility to work toward the release of those kidnapped," he said.
He also urged followers not to carry out revenge attacks against Syrians in Lebanon.
“Threatening to kidnap Syrians in Lebanon is unacceptable and religiously impermissible and it does not serve the cause,” stressed Nasrallah.
The brother of one of those kidnapped said the rebel Free Syrian Army had vowed to release the men in exchange for FSA members being held by Syrian authorities.
22 May 2012, 17:49
04
quelqu'un veut absolument provoquer la guerre au Liban. a la tele une femme de Alep a dit qu'il ont ete kidnape' a 5 m de la frontiere. c'est tres etrange, je pensais que les troupes siriennes controllait encore les postes de frontieres.
22 May 2012, 22:11
11
ce n'est pas neuf, israel et la syrie se sont toujours affrontes sur le territoire libanais... ensuite l'Iran a fait de meme.... maintenant c'est Assad qui essaie de survivre en tentant d'embraser le Liban voisin, hsitoire de montrer qu'il est le seul capable d'eteindre les incendies qu'il a le pouvoir de declencher. c'est classique... Le Liban est un pays sans avenir, c'est certain.
22 May 2012, 18:22
412
You sow what you reap. Creep. What kind of country anyway, has a guy like this who lives in a hole in the ground and who exercises more power than the President, Prime Minister, the cabinet and the Parliament combined? A backwards hidebound 7th Century satrap. That is what this thing is turning Lebanon, the most chic country in the world, he is turning into his image, slowly, relentlessly, one spoonful at a time.
We know what the problem is. If only some leadership would be shown to execute the solution.
22 May 2012, 21:07
31
you know what the problem is! Lebanon is a chic country! time to put the hashish pipe down fool. Your really are a tough guy behind that keyboard. Why dont we meat, lets say at Pizza hut aye buddy. Beiruti...I'll bet that your a closet homosexual and inpotent at that.
22 May 2012, 21:17
10
Your Hizbshitan thugs in syria... but you sheep will never accept the truth of what is...IS!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wx6loPOXSPU
22 May 2012, 18:23
27
So it's OK for you to kill by means of inside jobs using the Lebanese army? Ya manzar wissikh!
22 May 2012, 18:29
211
Great speech...In view of the critical situation in Lebanon, He did great calling for calm and restraint.
And even more welcomed was Hariri's call for the release of the Shiaa Lebanese abducted in Halab.
These kind of actions will spare Lebanon civil war.
23 May 2012, 06:51
01
Is there a coded message I am missing here. Whatever he called for, it happened.
22 May 2012, 19:05
27
have you ever heard him asking for the other lebanese disappeared in the syrian jails i.e Lebanese soldiers ? Never ... this is a sectarian thug all what is important to him is his community the guys is taking revenge for what has been done to shi3a in the past , he didn't learn that the christian failed to rule alone the same as the sunni and it cannot work like this in lebanon ... he wants to destroy it !
23 May 2012, 07:50
11
how about all those that geagea sunk in the sea in containers? how about the iranian diplomats who were kidnapped at a LF checkpoint and never seen since?
balaye devant ta porte slash au lieu de faire la morale, tu es tres mal placé :)
23 May 2012, 10:39
11
LOL peace! your bias is astonishing :D
slash talked first of lebanese prisoners in syrian jails, and i reminded him the crimes he personally took part in, as an active LF militiaman, that were from the same period.
but of course you're so biased your silly remark is directed at me, not slash. you're funny guys, almost endearing.
23 May 2012, 16:09
10
eh mowaten , you are right but without any tangible proof , now go dig deeper and give us the proofs showing that what you say is correct and trust me i ll give up beeing LF and i'll join your ranks ... you want more than that ?
22 May 2012, 19:07
36
We are calm and we dont gve a crap about your lies. Now back to your hole, chicken
22 May 2012, 19:07
35
And Mr Nesralla, the sooner the better it is for you to realise that Lebanon will NEVER become an islamic republic like you and your masters in iran wish to achieve,and Mr Hariri the same goes for you Lebanon will NEVER succombe to your wahabite or salafite masters in saudi arabia. Ive said it once and will say it again,the lebanese people are an educated,sophisticated and free people.
22 May 2012, 21:02
23
and you think if he wanted it to be you can stop him! what a bunch of jokers...
22 May 2012, 22:52
23
YES WE CAN! We may be a punch of jokers but you and your masters are a joke if you think this guy can do whatever he wants.
Look at what Assad is doing in Syria for fifteen months and with his entire army and Mu5habarat cannot stop the freedom seeking Syrian people!
23 May 2012, 07:53
21
phoenician: you're about 30 years too late :) nasrallah realized that way before you were born and since he withrew all calls for an islamic republic, even removed it from the hezbollah charter and repeatedly said that an islamic republic is not possible nor desirable in a country with such mixity.
why are you stuck in the past dude? the world moves on, with or without you :)
23 May 2012, 10:07
20
"why are you stuck in the past dude? " just read your precedent post: you live in the past too... so don t blame him as he does what you do too!
23 May 2012, 10:49
01
yaret geagea belonged to the past peace, his crimes are in the past, but the criminal still is here today, and still followed by hollow heads like you.
the debate that phoenician tries to open however belongs to the past and is no longer of any relevance. what he criticizes already has been rejected and forgotten so he's just fighting windwills
23 May 2012, 12:23
10
"but the criminal still is here today, and still followed by hollow heads like you."
the criminal benefited from amnesty from your friend lahoud...so he is no more a criminal... funny how only this man is labeled criminal by M8 forgetting all the criminals still in power in M8...
double M8 standards as usual....
23 May 2012, 14:46
01
dont hide behind paperwork peace, we all know the crimes he has committed, against political leaders, their families, civilians, Lebanese soldiers and many others..
he was saved by the amnesty, because the country needed to get out of the civil war they decided to forget everything, but i disagree, we can't build anything solid on rubble, we need to clean up first.
regarding m8 criminals who and what crimes are you referring to? be precise please.
23 May 2012, 16:13
10
alla ysse3dak Moumou l wa7ech ... ya3nei 3anjad wa7ech , bass hay2tak bteklo bel dra3 ;)
22 May 2012, 19:10
02
You're all a bunch of idiots...including the ones who put as their profile pictures of Lebanese poticians who are the sons of the sons of the sons of the same polticians over and over again...you have no brain to think for yourself and this country will never change...other countries are launching commercial trips to the international space ship and we're still saying this party said this and this party said that....what a waste of such a beautiful country...shame on your all....
22 May 2012, 19:23
46
Yalla rja3 3a jourtak habibi yalla. You don't represent the Lebanese so don't act like you do. Yalla run back to your hole before a drone homes in on you.
23 May 2012, 03:19
21
The power of a gun is amazing, some follow at gunpoint some follow for a loaf of bread and free medical care.
22 May 2012, 19:36
15
"The Lebanese state and government have a responsibility to work toward the release of those kidnapped," he said.
you are totally correct and we deplore such kidnapping of lebanese citizens. but what about working towards release of the lebanese in syrian jails or at least return their bodies? what about the state and government responsibility to ensure that syrians and lebanese are not abducted in lebanon and handed to the syrian regime? nothing but another one sided speech....
22 May 2012, 21:46
16
The Free Syrian Army has already denied responsiblity so stop your barking.
22 May 2012, 21:50
14
I dont know why for every article we should bring up the past.
Comment his latest speech only. the latest speech was actually pretty good ( this short one that he did this evening).
He simply said No closing roads and no attacks on innocent people inside Lebanon.
Whether you like him or not, what he said was good for Lebanon this time.
22 May 2012, 22:05
10
Someone should have told that dog, that the Syrian free army is only made up of Saints and that only Israel , could have kidnapped the visiting chiites ! These guys should be paid in kind, and made aware, that as a minority in Lebanon and, the ME, the members of the Hizb sect will be treated in kind ! Those individuals are no better than murdered Prime Minister and MP's , and numerous other ordinary citizens killed wrecklessly by the Hizb animals!
22 May 2012, 22:38
21
Stop accusing each other on each article..... To hell all Lebanese parties and their leaders, we are for economic growth only, and a rich top tier country only. When achieve that then we'll be able to help neighbours and even the endangerd polar bears or maybe the king penguins of the north pole. I swear.. But now let's just focus on making money, thats the real and only cure for this country, wealth...
22 May 2012, 23:10
23
Nasralah should have known better that he putting the she3a community in lebanon, who were once welcomed by suni syrians in 2006, at war with the sunis in Syria: a strategic blunder. Officialy the two communities, unfortunately, are defacto enemies and let's be honest about this, Hizbustan is involved in the genocide in Syria and not innocent one bit, all you have to do is watch manar. The current solution to this one is release of prisoners from both sides.
23 May 2012, 02:28
21
How could we ever build a nation when no one lifts a finger when Lebanese people are shot and killed on Lebanese property by Syrian soldiers across the border. The government denies they were killed and yet when Hizzbullah affiliated group is kidnapped, the Shias are protesting in the streets demanding their release. Not that I have ever had hope for Lebanon but this is a clear indication that this is a country doomed for years to come. Pitty the Nation.
23 May 2012, 04:58
12
What is good for the goose is not good for the gander?…. How about the many other Lebanese still spending time in Syria for opposing the regime? Or they don’t count since they do not support old handsome Harry above?
There are more Arabs in Jail in Arabic nations opposing Israel then there are in Israeli jails looool there is some logic there somewhere...
23 May 2012, 07:05
22
So he is calm because he does not have any force to use ,but if he in situation of being very power he will use it.
what a political agenda he follow ,hezbollah make all lebanease under dangour.
