REPORT: Families of Aazaz hostages suspend their sit-in until May 22nd

        
Families of the Lebanese hostages held in Syria's Aazaz suspended on Thursday their demonstration after the General Security Chief Abbas Ibrahim pointed out to "good signs" in the file of Aazaz hostages.      

The son of one of the Lebanese abductees, Adham Zgheib told LBC that the families will wait until May 22nd to settle this outstanding file, warning against the failure to find a solution, which will entail "uncontrollable repercussions".         

Earlier, the families staged a sit-in and cut off the road near the Turkish cultural center and the Turkish airlines offices in Downtown Beirut.         

For their part, the security forces cut off the road near al-Azarieh building in order to avoid any clashes between the families of the Aazaz hostages and the employees of the Turkish missions.         

In this context, freed hostage Awad Ibrahim told LBCI that the families will take further escalatory steps until the arrival of the Lebanese hostages to Beirut airport, pointing out that they do not trust the Turkish State.         

In this regard, the wife of one of the Lebanese hostages, Mona Termos, said that the families will also disrupt Lebanese state institutions since the Lebanese government is standing against them in their attempts to disrupt Turkish interests in Beirut.          

Security forces were ordered to allow the employees to enter the Turkish cultural center and to prevent any attempt at closing the building.

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.       

On April 10, they prevented several Syrian nationals who operate businesses in some Beirut areas from opening shop, stating that such movements symbolize their sense of desperation.        

They also held a major demonstration 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."       

Since then they have also prevented Turkish trucks from offloading shipments at the Karantina dock.


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