BEIRUT: The Lebanese government has 24 hours to clarify the exact status of negotiations for the release of the Lebanese soldiers and policemen being held by militants from Syria, the hostages' families warned Tuesday, or they will escalate their protest and close down more roads.
“Given the [hostage] crisis we are going through and to ease the pressure on fellow citizens, we decided to give the government a 24-hour deadline to [brief us on the status of negotiations], which sides are obstructing these negotiations and what is the fate of our children,” a statement released by the hostages’ families Tuesday morning said.
“As a goodwill gesture on our part, we decided not to close any roads Tuesday, with the exception of the [protest] campsites at Dahr al-Baidar and Qalamoun."
The statement said this was the last warning the families would give. Sources close to the families said the ultimatum ends early Wednesday morning.
Dahr al-Baidar, which links Beirut and the Bekaa Valley, remained shut after protesters erected high sand mounds Monday, blocking all access, including a narrow passageway that had been kept open for ambulances and emergency cases, disrupting traffic on the Bekaa’s main artery for a second week.
Hostages’ families had initially put up huge tents to block the Beirut-Damascus highway.
On the Qalamoun highway in north Lebanon, protesters have erected two tents at the side of the road and only block traffic upon a collective decision by the hostages’ families.
The frustrated relatives have shut off many roads across Lebanon over the last several weeks to press the government to speed up efforts toward the release of their loved ones.
At least 21 Lebanese soldiers and policemen are held captive by ISIS and Nusra Front since their brief takeover of the northeastern border town of Arsal in early August. Among other demands, the captors are reportedly seeking to swap the servicemen with Islamist inmates held at Roumieh Prison.
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