BEIRUT: Two Army soldiers held captive by Nusra Front militants appear in a video released Sunday, speaking to their families on the phone and demanding the release of Roumieh prisoners.
The two Army soldiers, George Khoury and Ahmad Abbas, were shown alongside two unnamed captives from the Lebanese security and military forces in a video posted by a Nusra-affiliated Twitter account.
The video kicked off with Khoury’s phone call to what seems to be his father, asking him about his trip back from the outskirts after he and Khoury’s mother were allowed a visit to see their hostage son.
Shortly after, the abducted soldier Ahmad Abbas was sobbing as he spoke to relatives over the phone, assuring them of his safety.
Abbas called on his family to take to the streets and protests for the release of detained Islamists in Roumieh Prison.
At least 22 security personnel are still being held hostage, and militants are demanding the release of Islamist prisoners detained at Roumieh Prison in exchange for the captives.
Lebanon’s government has officially announced that it will reject any exchange deal, saying this would harm the state’s prestige and open the door to similar acts in the future.
“Qatar is attempting to help us in the kidnapped soldiers’ matter after the confrontation with terrorists in Arsal” Prime Minister Tammam Salam said during a visit to Doha Sunday, where he is set to discuss the hostage crisis with the Qatari mediators.
Qatar is overseeing negotiations between the Lebanese state and the extremist groups who kidnapped at least 30 soldiers and police officers during clashes with the Army in Arsal last month.
“Qatar is playing the mediator role with the Nusra and ISIS, whose conditions vary from feasible to incapacitating,” Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim at the Qatari airport.
“The demands of the soldiers' kidnappers are being announced from outside the Qalamoun,” he added, “and they vary between ISIS and Nusra. Separate negotiations are being carried with each.”
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