Aazaz Rebels Arrest Lebanese Journalist in Syria, MP Oqab Saqr Negotiating his Release

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

Syrian rebel fighters in the Aazaz area posted on their facebook page Saturday that they have detained Lebanese journalist Fida Itani, reported the National News Agency.

They assured that they will free him as soon as the necessary documents and information about him are acquired.

Itani, who works for the al-Akhbar daily, LBCI television, and other news channels, was detained “because his work is incompatible with the path of the Syrian revolution and rebels” the rebels posted on their page.

The coordination of Aazaz rebels pointed out that “reports and videos have not proven yet Itani's involvement with any party that works against the revolution, but his presence as a journalist no longer receives approval in areas controlled by the rebels.”

LBCI contacted a rebel official in Aazaz, Abu Ibrahim, who confirmed that Itani is in the custody of Aazaz rebels, and that he was detained while accompanying a group of fighters in Aleppo.

Abu Ibrahim, or Ammar al-Dadikhli, abductor of nine Lebanese pilgrims in Syria said: “Itani was taking photos of a lot of military operations which made us suspicious and therefore we took him to Aazaz.”

Meanwhile, al-Jadeed television quoted sources informed on the negotiations to free Itani as saying that al-Mustaqbal bloc MP Oqab Saqr is exerting "strenuous efforts" to free him.

He is expected to be released in the next two days, it revealed.

Eleven Lebanese pilgrims were kidnapped by the rebel Free Syrian Army in the northern province of Aleppo on May 22 as they were returning home from a pilgrimage in Iran.

One abductee was released in August in what his captors said was a “goodwill” gesture and another was released in September.

The kidnappers had repeatedly linked the release of the Lebanese captives to Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, a close ally of the Syrian regime, apologizing over his stances on the Syrian revolt.

Comments 9
Default-user-icon William (Guest) 27 October 2012, 16:51

more like : "Itani took photos of lots of the massacres and foul play we were committing against the only one and only evil evil regime and his supporters whom are a good majority of the syrian people! which is incompatible with the path of the Syrian revolution and rebels, so we took him in and will free him as soon as we confiscate all his equipment and send a letter of threat to his mom so he wont speak again, oh and in doing so we'll make an example out of him for other journalists on the ground!brilliant!

Missing realist 27 October 2012, 17:59

Shut up already, and one day people will avenge the death of hassan and hariri. Your aoun will be punished for his death threats to hassan.

Missing greatpierro 27 October 2012, 20:06

Realist we should not call for avenging the death of those who were so cowardly assassinated by a hate regime. If we do so we become like those whose behavior we condemn.
We should call for national understanding and this should not come only from our leader but it should come from all of us.

Missing greatpierro 27 October 2012, 20:02

these are your supposition just because you are pro assad. maybe you are right or may be you are wrong.

no one can support this regime as for the past 40 years it has ruled in tyranny over the Syrian people but wrecked havoc in Lebanon, iraq, kurdistan, turkey and gaza. This regime was incapable of going through a pacific transition when people went demonstrating on the street. Now we have a civil war. A la guerre comme à la guerre. Unfortunately no one has the monopoly of death and crime.

Rather than supporting one side or another, we should all call for a pacific solution that brings about a democratic government.

Default-user-icon William (Guest) 27 October 2012, 21:14

you feed on past hatred, i don't side with assad's regime, nor with any political party in this snake pit of a homeland called Lebanon, I condemn syria's influence on lebanon and i'd let other countries deal with their own scars, but I BLAME LEBANESE MOSTLY FOR THE SYRIAN TRAGEDIES IN THE PAST, and NOT SYRIA ALONE, get this and get this straight, Lebanese taught them how to steal better, manipulate better and worst of all how to sell your brothers better, and don't you speak for the syrian people, trust me while not perfect they were living far better than you ever were in lebanon, here's a short list (below).

Missing greatpierro 27 October 2012, 20:13

The nazi used to call the resistants terrorists. The Israeli used to call HA terrorists when they fought against it in south lebanon. Assad is calling the FSA terrorist in the same manner. It is so convenient to call terrorist your opponent in order to take away the legitimacy of his actions. No one is saying that the FSA are angels nor that among them there are now salafists that are discovering a whole new playground for them.
We should be weary from taking sides but we should support a pacific solution for Syria.

Missing peace 28 October 2012, 01:36

the only difference is that hezbos do not resist anything else than the lebanese laws and constitution...
"resistance" is now a marketing logo to sell their soup to weak minds like yours baby....

Missing peace 27 October 2012, 20:22

Meshaal angered Damascus by praising "the revolution of the Syrian people for freedom and democracy" when he participated in the congress of Turkey's ruling party.

even hamas your beloved ally criticizes the regime you fiercly support, hezbis and FPMers....

Default-user-icon William (Guest) 27 October 2012, 21:15

list: they had FREE HOSPITALS EVERYWHERE, CHEAPEST MEDICINE, FREE GAS FOR WINTER, FREE EDUCATION, and syria was labeled by "the lonely planet" as number one safest country in the world, were no woman was harrassed and thieves/murderers had their heads chopped off, yes there were areas in syria with great poverty but hey turkey with all their show is no better outside istanbul, and some of this was because of the sanctions imposed on syria, and unlike lebanon "sectarianism" was unheard of in syria, so i suggest you put some cotton in your mouth and blame your fellow man here for all their backstabbing and try to clean your room first before pouring water in your neighbors apartment. I believe in gradual change, have that or start he stone age as is happening now.