Major General Ibrahim denies reports on the release of the Aazaz abductees

            
The Information Office of the General Director of Public Security, Major General Abbas Ibrahim said Tuesday that what some media have exchanged about the ongoing negotiations concerning the release of the nine Lebanese kidnapped in Aazaz lacks precision in numerous aspects. He also declared that negotiations are ongoing with all concerned parties despite the various obstacles at hand.           

Ibrahim also urged the media to deal with the issue with utmost sensitivity and precision in order to preserve the integrity and the outcome of the case with respect to the feelings of the abductees' families.            

Eleven Lebanese pilgrims were kidnapped on their way back from Iran by insurgents hoping to use them for a prisoner swap on the 22nd of May. Only two have so far been released.           

Their families have vowed to continue their movements until all their loved ones have returned home "safe and sound".              

They accuse Ankara of sponsoring the kidnapping and the Lebanese government of inaptness in this regard.            

Over the past months they also held major demonstrations in Martyrs Square before the Turkish Airline Offices whereby they announced that they would be calling for the boycott of all Turkish products in Lebanon since "Lebanon imports a billion dollars’ worth of products from Ankara on a yearly basis."