Qatar Envoy in Beirut as Lebanon on Edge over Beheading Threat

Qatar's envoy, who is tasked with mediating the release of Lebanese soldiers and policemen taken captive by jihadists from a border town, is expected to arrive in Beirut on Friday amid hopes by their families that the hostages will escape beheading.

The envoy, a Syrian, is scheduled to meet with members from the Muslim Scholars Committee and officials close to al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front away from media spotlight.

The soldiers and Internal Security Forces members were taken captive by jihadists from al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State group when the militants overran the northeastern border town of Arsal last month.

The fighters beheaded two of them and threatened to kill more if the Lebanese authorities failed to meet their demands.

There are conflicting reports on the demands of the militants. But a request to release accused Islamic militants from Lebanese detention and the withdrawal of Hizbullah fighters from Syria are among them.

On Tuesday, gunmen crossed the border from Syria and kidnapped a soldier from his parents' farm on the outskirts of Arsal.

The IS also threatened to behead another soldier over what it described as the Lebanese government's “lies” and “procrastination” in the negotiations over the abducted troops.

General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim briefed on Thursday Prime Minister Tammam Salam on the result of his talks with Qatari and Turkish officials in the capital Doha.

The families of the captives also rallied outside the Grand Serail and met with the PM.

Jamaa Islamiya member Ahmed al-Ayyoubi said on behalf of the families following the meeting that their main concern lies in stopping death threats permanently so that the government can continue to negotiate the release.

Al-Joumhouria daily said that Prime Minister Tammam Salam asked cabinet ministers during a session held on Thursday to contribute to the efforts exerted by officials to calm protesters if the jihadists beheaded another captive.

Salam's request came after Ibrahim told him that Qatari officials were finding difficulty in convincing the IS to renege on its threat of beheading another captive, said al-Joumhouria.

The report follows a claim made by Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq that extensive contacts have been made with the jihadists, leading to a “preliminary suspension” of the decision to kill another soldier.

G.K.

H.K.