Kidnappers Demand Ransom for Wealthy Businessman in Tyre

Kidnappers are demanding a 3-million-dollar ransom in return for freeing a Lebanese businessman abducted in the southern city of Tyre, the National News Agency and Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5) reported on Wednesday.

NNA said that Najib Youssef, 66, was heading on Tuesday afternoon from his house in Bourj al-Shamali in his four-wheel Cadillac to a land he owns in Abou Aswad when several gunmen took him away.

The armed men, who were in another vehicle, left his Cadillac behind.

They contacted his son around 10:00 pm to ask for ransom, NNA said without specifying the amount.

But VDL (100.5) said the kidnappers called Youssef's son from a payphone in Beirut asking for 3 million dollars.

The abductee, who resides abroad and hails from the town of Qadmous, is the agent of Renault and BMW in Tyre, it said.

The kidnapping of businessmen has become common in Lebanon, and many cases are resolved either after payment of a ransom or the arrest of the suspects.