Report: Case of Hostages Witnesses Progress in Negotiations
A progress has been reportedly achieved in the case of so-called Arsal hostages as a positive development could be reached in the upcoming hours.
According to al-Joumhouria newspaper published on Tuesday, a recent meeting between General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim and Qatari intelligence chief Ghanem al-Kubaisi in Doha has set a new roadmap to implement the prisoners swap deal between the abductors and the Lebanese state.
The daily said that the deal was kept discrete during the past few days and is expected to come to light in the upcoming hours.
Qatar's mediation to release the servicemen abducted by Islamist gunmen have intensified in recent days.
A number of soldiers and policemen were abducted by al-Qaida-affiliate al-Nusra Front and Islamic State group gunmen in the wake of clashes in Arsal in August.
A few of them have since been released, four were executed, and the rest remain held.
The captors have been demanding the release of Islamists held in Lebanon as a condition to set them free.
Media reports said over the weekend that al-Nusra Front handed over to the Qatari appointed mediator a list of its demands in return for the release of the Lebanese soldiers and policemen in its captivity.
H.K.
G.K.
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