Qatar Ends Arsal Hostage Efforts, Salam Remains Silent

Qatar’s foreign ministry said in a statement issued on Sunday night that it had launched the mediation efforts upon Lebanon's request and for humanitarian reasons.

But it put an end to its efforts after its envoy failed to resolve the crisis.

Qatar regretted the killing of policeman Ali al-Bazzal and renewed its commitment to exert all diplomatic efforts to save lives.

The mediation's end came after the families of the servicemen, who were taken hostage by al-Nusra Front and the extremist Islamic State group from the northeastern town of Arsal in August, blocked roads across Lebanon.

The relatives accuse the Lebanese authorities of procrastinating in meeting the demands of the jihadists.

They called on Monday on the Muslim Scholars Committee to play a bigger role in the negotiations after Qatar's withdrawal.

But Sheikh Salem al-Rafehi, who heads the committee, told LBCI TV that the Lebanese authorities should ask the Muslim Scholars to negotiate with the hostage-takers and show willingness to engage in a swap.

The Committee later held talks with Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Daryan.

Rafehi said after the meeting: “The government should officially task the Committee with addressing the case of the Arsal captives.”

“It should accept holding negotiations with the gunmen,” he added.

“Official authorization by the government would thwart external meddling in the affair,” he explained.

He reiterated the Committee's proposal to release the women and children in exchange for the gunmen seizing their threats against the captives.

Al-Nusra on Friday published a photo purporting to show Bazzal being shot in the head and threatened to kill more soldiers if the relatives of the militants are not released immediately.

Lebanese authorities have arrested a divorcee and child of IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. They have also apprehended the wife and two children of another militant commander in Syria, Abu Ali al-Shishani.

Following the weekend turmoil, Prime Minister Tammam Salam refused to give details to his visitors on the latest meeting of the committee which is tasked with overseeing the hostage file.

Asked about the security situation in the country, Salam said: “There is nothing comforting … but things are under control.”

Salam preferred to keep discretion, the visitors told An Nahar daily in remarks published on Monday.