Mansour Says Turkey Not to be Held Responsible for Kidnapped Lebanese in Aazaz

Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour stressed on Wednesday that Turkey is not behind the abduction of Lebanese pilgrims in Syria, a day after the families of the men held a sit-in near the Baabda Palace to demand President Michel Suleiman and the government to resolve the case.

"Turkey isn't responsible for the kidnapping of the men in Syria," Mansour said in comments to Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5).

He pointed out that Ankara is exerting efforts to release the remaining 9 men.

On May 22, eleven Lebanese pilgrims were kidnapped in Syria's Aleppo district as they were making their way back by land from a pilgrimage in Iran.

One was released in late August and another in September, while the rest remain in the Aleppo town of Aazaz.

The Minister presumed that the families are linking Turkey to the case because it's a strong advocate of the Syrian rebels.

On Monday, the Turkish Embassy in Lebanon urged its citizens to be careful and take caution, after the families of the abducted pilgrims threatened over the weekend to target Turkey's interests in the country.

Ahead of the Christmas mass at Bkirki on Tuesday, Suleiman called on the families of the men not to hold Turkey responsible for the incident.