Report: Security Official in Turkey to Follow Up Case of Abducted Lebanese Pilgrims

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel delegated anew a security official to Turkey to address the case of the abducted Lebanese pilgrims in Syria, the Central News Agency reported on Saturday.

According to the news agency, the kidnappers expressed readiness to free six out of the eleven Lebanese pilgrims until investigations with the rest are complete.

However, the report said that Hizbullah’s leadership refused the suggestion and insisted on the release of the 11 men together before the month of Ramadan.

Information obtained by the news agency said that the Turkish authorities briefed Lebanese officials on the recent developments, noting that it is exerting efforts to release the men before the month of Ramadan.

The report said that the abductors will not release those who are officials in Hizbullah and helped train the “regime’s Shabiha”, militiamen, and provided the Syrian forces with money and weapons.

On July 2, Charbel revealed that an Internal Security Forces officer and a delegation of Salafist clerics visited Turkey to follow up the efforts underway to release the men.

Sources said that President Michel Suleiman is set to visit Turkey if any new development occurred.

The 11 Shiite pilgrims were abducted by gunmen in the northern Syrian province of Aleppo on May 22 as they were returning from a pilgrimage to Iran.

Their location remains unknown amid conflicting reports that they had entered Turkish territory.

Turkey had exerted efforts to ensure their release, but they have yet to yield any results.

No side has so far claimed responsibility for the abduction, but various sides had been accused of being behind the incident, including the Free Syrian Army, which has denied any involvement in the case.

No news has been heard of the men except for a video aired on al-Jazeera TV earlier in June, in which the abductees claimed they were doing well.