Suleiman Slams Kidnappings, Judicial Authorities Must Issue Warrants against Captors
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
President Michel Suleiman condemned on Tuesday the series of kidnappings that have taken place in Lebanon in recent days, saying that the retaliatory abductions will not help ensure the release of the 11 Lebanese pilgrims.
He demanded that the judicial authorities “take immediate actions” and issue arrest warrants against the perpetrators, who have kidnapped Syrian and Turkish nationals in Lebanon.
“These developments will only complicate matters and efforts to release the captives,” he added.
These incidents also tarnish Lebanon’s image and reputation, remarked the president.
“The recent events have been acts of defiance against the state and Lebanon’s ties with fraternal countries,” Suleiman noted.
Eleven Lebanese pilgrims were kidnapped in the northern Syrian province of Aleppo on their way home from a pilgrimage to Iran on May 22. Conflicting reports have emerged on their fate after Syrian government forces shelled the area of Aazaz where they were being held.
Lebanese Hassan Salim al-Meqdad was allegedly kidnapped by the Free Syrian Army last week in Damascus which prompted his family’s previously unknown military wing to abduct several Syrians and a Turkish citizen to press the release of Hassan.
Another Turkish national has also been kidnapped but it was not clear who was behind his abduction.
21 August 2012, 11:45
010
The President has had enough. He is a conscientious man and cannot remain silent while Mikati watches while Syria is taking Lebanon to the brink of war using (or I should say abusing) its allies in Lebanon (Hezb, Aoun, etc.) The Michel Samaha thing has really pissed him off! I wish we knew what he knows!!
21 August 2012, 12:44
08
Good work Mr. President. There comes a time when you will have to speak out and act. Get them sir because the great majority of the Lebanese, including Hezbollah's supporters want an end to kidnapping and chaos. Just like they drew Red lines for you in Nahr El Bared, you refused and broke the back of the terrorists, now is yet again another time when the nation is watching you and waiting for your leadership. Break them sir, and now.
21 August 2012, 13:56
16
HA drew a red line on Nahr al bared at the time, but they backed off when the army insisted on restoring control. That was the army under the previous government of course. This one wants to weaken the army because it has its own army.
21 August 2012, 13:57
17
Sayed Hassan was the first to use the red lines acronym, at the time that Nahr El Bared was a red line that should not be crossed by anyone, the army first in line. Then Sleyman got more red lines from both M14 and M8, but he and the late Francois Hajj just forged ahead and broke the back of Fateh Al Nesswen, sorry Islam I meant to say. I know that when Sleymen sets to do a thing, he does it, period. This is what he should do now, arrest the sobs.
21 August 2012, 12:54
17
Well Mr. President, this is too little too late. This has been happening over a week now, where were you the moment it was happening and kidnappers were parading on television and threatening?
21 August 2012, 13:46
110
Hassan mokdad is a prisonner of war. He was caught because he was fighting the rebels. It is not the lebanese gouvernment who sent him, he went from his own free will. It is not the lebanese gouvernement to release him. It is to syria's gouvernment since he was fighting for the syrian gouvernemnt. NOT FOR THE LEBANESE GOUVERNEMENT YOU IDIOT MOKDADS.
The mokdads have the typical attitude of chiites who blame the gouvernement for every problem they have. They should be arrested. Amal and HA should arrest them so that we dont have a civil war.
The responsibility of fixing this issue is on Amal and HA
21 August 2012, 15:13
05
God Bless and Protect President Sleiman. For the first time in well over a generation, almost two generations, Lebanon finally has a President who stands up to the Syrian regime.
21 August 2012, 15:52
04
You forgot Amine Gemayel. when he stood against the syrian regime, bombs on ashrafieh doubled. You forgot Bachir Gemayel. when he tried to unite the lebanese, he got killed.
Assad and his regime are the scum of the earth. They are the chain holding Lebanon underwater. Once they go to the fires of hell, Lebanon will soar. Because Lebanon is a phoenix.
21 August 2012, 19:50
04
and theres no1 bashing any1 here.....bravo mr president bass please lets see some action also most of the kidnapped in syria were fighting against the FSA true or not who knows bass its weird to have a moqdad militia fighters and a poor pilgrim caught in the action i think that guy was fighting alongside the regime thus making him a P.O.W....yalla ya 7drid lra2is time for action and time to get our beloved country back for the lebanese pple and for the martyrs that sacrificed their lives for our wonderful home GOD BLESS LEBANON AND LONG LONG LIVE THE PRESIDENT
21 August 2012, 23:10
00
YO Naharnet admin, is the guy posting the guest's comments on vacation?
22 August 2012, 09:51
02
Wow the return of Rajul al Qarar. He cannot backup what he says one inch out of his B3abda office as he has no wings to start with. Sadly he is but a picture figure with little abilities past begging for his daily existance.
22 August 2012, 20:36
00
do not worry. your governement is trying to make you busy with prooblems it could be solve anytime but the problem that all lebaneese people do nat say anything about it why is everything expensive. wake up you have to know that your leader are getting rich and the people are getting poor. can you afford to buy a house or car food or send your kid to the school. can you afford to get married or take your family out for dinner. wake they are geting rich and the people aregetting poor. wake it is already tooooo late.
