Charbel Returns from Turkey 'Satisfied' after Talks on Fate of Lebanese Kidnapped in Syria

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel revealed on Wednesday that there was a "positive development" in the cases of Lebanese kidnapped in Syria following talks with Turkey's intelligence chief and his aide.

Charbel made the revelation from the Grand Serail following his return to Beirut less than 24 hours after accompanying freed Turkish businessman Tekin Tufan to Turkey with General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim and Turkish Ambassador Inan Ozyildiz.

“There is full coordination between the Turkish and Lebanese governments” on the case of the kidnapped, Charbel said after holding talks with Prime Minister Najib Miqati and informing cabinet ministers about the results of his meetings in Ankara.

“I hope we reach a happy ending. I am satisfied with the latest developments,” he told reporters.

“There are positive developments,” he said, adding that the Turkish officials promised him to deal with the cases of all Lebanese kidnapped in Syria, including Hassan al-Meqdad.

The four men left for Ankara at 1:00 am in what Charbel said was a trip aimed at handing over Tufan to the Turkish authorities and negotiating with the Turkish officials the possibility of the release of 10 Lebanese pilgrims held hostage by armed Syrian rebels since May.

Eleven pilgrims were kidnapped by the rebel Free Syrian Army in the northern Syrian province of Aleppo on May 22 while they were returning from Iran. One of them, Hussein Ali Omar, was released last month as a goodwill gesture.

Speaking to reporters at the Dalaman airport in Mugla province in southwestern Turkey after his arrival, Tekin said his release after 27 days was just like a "dream."

Both the Turkish and Lebanese governments worked hard to secure his release, he said.

He also indicated that he was not treated badly by his captors: "They allowed me to do many things I need to do in my ordinary life.”

Al-Meqdad clan released the Turkish man after joint efforts between the Army and General Security, said Ibrahim.

He was handed by the clan to General Security forces on Tuesday evening.

“I ask on the governments in the world and the Syrian opposition to free all Lebanese in Syria,” he said in Beirut.

Earlier Tuesday, the army freed four Syrians who were held by al-Meqdad clan along with Tufan.

The clan went on a kidnapping spree last month in retaliation to the abduction of Hassan al-Meqdad in Damascus.

PM Miqati received phone calls late Tuesday from his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

“The Turkish citizen is like all other Lebanese nationals and the Lebanese government exerted every effort to release him,” Miqati's press office quoted Miqati as telling Erdogan.

He also hoped that Turkish authorities would intensify their efforts to set free the Lebanese men kidnapped in Syria.