Report: Turkey Refuses Mediation in Case of Captive Soldiers
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has informed the Lebanese government that Ankara is not willing to act as a mediator in the case of the soldiers and policemen who were kidnapped by jihadists last month, As Safir daily reported on Friday.
Turkish officials have also informed the Lebanese authorities that their rejection to mediate stems from the “sensitivity” of the case, Lebanese ministerial sources said.
Qatar promised Prime Minister Tammam Salam earlier this month to help resolve the hostage crisis. But As Safir said that the head of the Qatari intelligence has so far failed to give the green light to Doha's envoy to travel to Beirut.
The al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State group kidnapped the soldiers and police when they overran the northeastern border town of Arsal in August.
They executed three of them and vowed to kill more hostages if the Lebanese authorities did not meet their demands.
Al-Akhbar newspaper quoted an al-Nusra Front leader as saying that the group has not yet decided to execute them.
But stated: “Their state has killed them.”
He promised to end the negotiations on the release of the captives after the military carried out large-scale raids in Arsal on Thursday, arresting dozens of suspected terrorists.
The Lebanese army foiled at dawn Friday a new attempt by jihadists to infiltrate Arsal from the town's outskirts, the state-run National News Agency reported.
The failure to release the captives has stirred widespread anger among the Lebanese, and mainly the relatives of the hostages who have blocked major roads and promised to up their protests pending the release of their loved ones.
The demands of the jihadists have been unclear. But media reports have said that the release of Roumieh prison Islamists is among their conditions.
Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq denied in remarks to As Safir that the members of a committee tasked with resolving the case have discussed the exchange of prisoners.
His statement came after he was criticized for claiming on Wednesday that the government was not opposed to the swap.
G.K.
D.A.
26 September 2014, 08:19
46
have you ever watched nasrallah waving his finger and threatening people?
26 September 2014, 09:27
52
Time to stop playing around. LEB Army to continue to curb very hard on these fanatic terrorists.
Time for eye for an eye ---for every soldier harmed LEB gov must execute and deport 10 folds.
We saw yest the refugees chanting pro nusra/daash in arsal...Don't be fooled --these are NOT refugees but terrorists..
Erdo thanks no need for your help..
26 September 2014, 09:37
35
You kidnap their pilots right under the nose the army/isf and you want them to help you. LOL
26 September 2014, 09:40
35
while you post your silly comments, this man whether you like him or not is democratically elected by an overwhelming majority, runs one of the best economies in the world, and commands one of the strongest armies in Europe. You can continue to post here while he runs a country. Who is useless now>!
26 September 2014, 11:40
61
lubnani
Turkey for a while had a thriving economy but no more. It is actually beset by inflation and much lower economic growth. In one word the Turkish economy is stagnating due to Erdogan's switching from a secular to an islamist style. He ran away investors plus he is beset by social problems from the Turkish people whose majority want to remain secular. add to that the refugee influx and add to that his blatant support for ISIS so he no longer s the shining armor
26 September 2014, 09:44
51
Why are we surprised Erdogan's government is a direct accomplice with all radical Islamic groups including ISIS. Besides there were recently some reports circulating that indicated that Turkey was buying Oil from ISIS at discounted prices. Therefore, Turkey's refusal in direct mediation in the case of captive Lebanese soldiers under these circumstances is totally understandable.
26 September 2014, 11:30
24
I agree with you CFTC (guest) if it were not for the fact that your iranian militia kidnapped 2 Turkish pilots which makes their refusal to mediate quite understandable
26 September 2014, 11:34
22
where are the 2 archbishops ya ardougan , you are made from the same filth as these terrorists that turkey helped and is helping to get into irak and Syria
26 September 2014, 11:36
23
You are slagging Lubnani off for what you he said about Turkey and Erdogan ??Assuming that you are right and he is defending Erdogan !!
Coming for someone like you who is 24/7 on this site defending a regime that occupied lebanon and massacred thousands of lebanese?
Medre min el wati !!!ou medreh min is getting paid to be here 24/07 posting.
26 September 2014, 18:31
02
Erdagon has supported al nusra and Isis... Look how the only hostage release from Isis was with Turk hostages.
Why would Erdagon help the Lebanese Republic? He and his Turkish government have more to gain than Assad with this turmoil... When the time is right, the Ottamans will intervene!
