Berri Tells Kuwait that Lebanon is Keen to Secure al-Houti's Release

Speaker Nabih Berri on Sunday told his Kuwaiti counterpart Jassem al-Kharafi during a phone conversation that Lebanon is eager to end the abduction of Kuwaiti citizen Issam al-Houti soon, Kuwait’s state news agency KUNA reported.

“All Lebanese security agencies are on the highest state of alert to find the Kuwaiti citizen and guarantee his immediate release,” al-Kharafi quoted Berri as saying.

“Lebanese people do not forget the noble and supportive stances of the Kuwaiti leadership and people,” he said, adding that the Lebanese government will not condone any action that harms the special relations between the two countries.

Berri for his part noted that he was following up on the efforts exerted by security agencies to release al-Houti.

He also asked al-Kharafi to convey his greetings to Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawwaf al-Ahmed al-Sabah.

Al-Kharafi thanked Berri for “the great efforts and attention he and the Lebanese government are giving to the issue, hoping the ordeal of the abducted citizen will end as soon as possible,” said KUNA.

Al-Houti, 52, was seized at gunpoint after his car was intercepted by unknown gunmen in the Bekaa Valley on Saturday.