Muslim Scholars Association to meet Prime Minister Friday in efforts for release of kidnapped soldiers

The spokesman of the Association of Muslim Scholars Sheikh Adnan Omama denied reports stipulating that the delegation of Muslim Scholars will halt negotiations with gunmen holding LAF and ISF soldiers in the wake of the Arsal clashes.

Subsequently, Omama said the association will hold a meeting with Prime Minister Tammam Salam on Friday, during which the latter will inform the delegation of his response regarding the demands of the gunmen who abducted a number of army members and security forces in the northeastern border town.

The spokesman added that a decision concerning the fate of the association’s efforts will be issued in accordance with Salam’s feedback.

In this regard, Sheikh Omama said that two main reasons may trigger a possible cessation of negotiations between the association and gunmen; the first being the position launched by Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq Wednesday whereby he said that a prisoner swap should not occur.

"The seriousness of the said statement would definitely play a major role," Omama said.

The second reason comes in the form of foreign mediation, Sheikh Omama noted, adding that there have been discussions over a possible Qatari-Turkish initiative that includes the Director General of General Security Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim.

Sources close to the Muslim Scholars Committee had told LBCI on Thursday that the Committee may halt its negotiations in the case of the kidnapped soldiers to make way for international mediation efforts.

At least 30 ISF and LAF soldiers remain missing, presumably kidnapped by the Islamic State and al-Nusra Front militants, in the wake of deadly clashes that erupted in the northeastern border town of Arsal on August 01.

Clashes flared up when Syrian gunmen deployed across the region after the Lebanese Armed Forces arrested Imad Jomaa at a checkpoint. The clashes left at least 20 soldiers dead and 86 injured.

On Thursday (August 07), a military source stated that a truce in Arsal appeared to be holding and the situation in the border town was quiet.

The Muslim Scholars Committee has launched an initiative to ensure the return of the kidnapped soldiers and served as a mediator between the gunmen and the Lebanese authorities.

The gunmen had issued a list of demands, which include the release of several Islamist inmates from the infamous Roumieh prison. A demand the interior minister had rejected.

Lebanese security officials say the fighters include members of al Qaeda's Syria branch, the Nusra Front, and an al Qaeda splinter group, the Islamic State, which has seized swathes of land in Syria and Iraq.

Minister of Interior Nohad Machnouq told al-Akhbar newspaper on Thursday that General Security Chief Abbas Ibrahim was not conducting any negotiations with any foreign parties pertaining to the kidnapped soldiers in Arsal.

Machnouq stressed the importance of keeping the negotiations to release the troops under wraps to ensure the safe return of the soldiers.