Sleiman expresses gratitude to the Emir of Qatar, calls for exerting efforts to release abducted bishops

Lebanese President Michel Sleiman expressed his relief on Monday regarding the release of the abducted nuns of Syria's Maaloula as well as the release of 9-year-old child Michel Saqr, expressing his hope that the 2 abducted bishops and all other kidnapped Lebanese citizens be freed at the soonest time possible.           

In this regard, President Sleiman expressed his gratitude to the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and to the Syrian and Qatari authorities as well as all sides that exerted efforts to release the nuns.                       

Sleiman also denounced all kidnapping incidents, stressing the necessity of proceeding with contacts to release bishops Boulos Yaziji, and Yuhanna Ibrahim who were kidnapped by gunmen on the 22nd of April, as well Lebanese cameraman Samir Kassab, citizen Joseph Sader, and all Lebanese nationals detained in Nigeria.
              
Syrian rebels, including members of the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front, seized the 13 nuns and their three helpers from the Mar Takla convent when fighters overran the Christian village of Maaloula, north of Damascus, in December.         

On Sunday the 9th of March, Syrian rebels released a group of about a dozen Greek Orthodox nuns who had been held since December, in exchange for the release of around 150 female prisoners held by the Syrian regime.