Official Says Hizbullah Sabotaged Deal on Release of Hostages despite Party's Denial
The Lebanese government has failed to approve a deal with jihadists who have taken servicemen hostage after coming under pressure from Hizbullah, an official said Thursday.
The official, who was not identified, said Hizbullah pressured the cabinet and the so-called crisis cell to reject a deal mediated by Arab and regional countries for al-Nusra Front to release the 16 servicemen it has in its captivity in return for Beirut to set free female detainees and pay a $30 million ransom.
The official also told pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat that the deal would have been executed in three stages and within seven days.
Al-Nusra Front had been initially demanding the release of 16 Islamist inmates from Roumieh prison in return for setting free the Lebanese soldiers and policemen that it took captive when its fighters overran the northeastern border town of Arsal in August last year.
Islamic State jihadists also took with them hostages during the attack on Arsal but the negotiations with the group have reached a standstill over their crippling demands.
Despite al-Nusra's conditions on the Roumieh Islamists, the group gave up its demand and only called for the release of female detainees and the payment of ransom, said the official.
But Hizbullah imposed its opinion on the crisis cell that is headed by Prime Minister Tammam Salam out of its conviction that it can liberate the captives militarily, he told the newspaper.
But a Hizbullah official denied the claim, telling Asharq al-Awsat that the government is in charge of leading the negotiations with the extremists.
The official said the party is in favor of ending the captivity of the servicemen, adding that it backs the efforts made by General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim to secure the release of the hostages.
Ibrahim is Lebanon's official mediator in charge of dealing with several parties involved in the negotiations process, including an envoy from Qatar.
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