REPORT: Negotiations to release the two Turkish pilots underway

Families of Lebanese hostages in Syria's Aazaz reiterated on Tuesday that Mohammad Saleh has no relation with the kidnapping of the two Turkish pilots, adding that they have proof to support their claims.

The families asserted that they will not attack any public institution in their expected demonstrations, noting that contacts are underway with Turkish journalists to exchange the two pilots with one of the Lebanese hostages.

They noted also that Hezbollah and Amal are also exerting their efforts to expedite the release of Mohammad Saleh.

In this context, General Security chief Major General Abbas Ibrahim met with Sheikh Abbas Zgheib of the Supreme Shiite Islamic Council, and tackled with him the latest developments in the file of the Lebanese hostages.

During the meeting, Maj. Gen. Ibrahim said that contacts with Turkish authorities are underway to reach a common ground in this regard.

For her part, spokesperson of the relatives of the Lebanese hostages in Aazaz Hajja Hayat Awali said that the Lebanese state assumes the responsibility of the safety of kidnapped Lebanese national Jamil Saleh, father of the currently arrested Mohammad Saleh, who remains kidnapped alongside other hostages in Syria's Aazaz.

Lebanese police and army troops deployed in force outside Turkish businesses as well as diplomatic and cultural institutions in Beirut on Monday, hours after security forces detained a man in connection with the kidnapping of two Turkish pilots in Beirut last week, officials said.

Late Sunday, authorities took into custody a Lebanese man, identified as Mohammed Saleh, after he allegedly contacted the pilots' kidnappers by telephone, the officials said on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

Gunmen snatched the two Turkish Airlines pilots from a van near Beirut's international airport on Friday.

The kidnapping appears to be linked to the civil war in neighboring Syria.

A previously unknown group claimed responsibility for the abductions, and linked their fate to that of Lebanese Shiites who have been held by Syrian rebels for more than a year.

A rebel faction in northern Syria took hostage 11 Lebanese Shiites who had been on a bus tour of religious sites in the area.

The commander of the brigade, Ammar al-Dadikhli, told The Associated Press last September that he was holding them captive to try to force Lebanon's Shiite armed group Hezbollah to stop supporting Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime.

Syria's rebels are predominantly Sunnis, and are widely supported by Lebanon's own Sunni community. Lebanon's Shiite community strongly backs the Syrian regime. Turkey help broker the release of two of the 11 hostages last year.


LBCI/AP


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