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Friday, October 18, 2013
Nine Lebanese hostages freed in Syria, two Turkish hostages in Lebanon released soon
Le Monde.fr avec AFP
Nine Lebanese Shiite pilgrims , abducted last year in Syria by rebels were released , said the Lebanese Interior Minister , Friday, Oct. 18 . According to Prime Minister Najib Miqati , the hostages , who passed through Turkey, " are in a safe place and get ready to return to Lebanon," escorted by the chief diplomat of Qatar, Khaled Attieh as part of a mediation of his country.
The nine hostages were kidnapped in May 2012 in the province of Aleppo, in northern Syria, while returning from a pilgrimage in Iran. Despite denials families, kidnappers accused of belonging to Hezbollah , the Lebanese Shiite party that actively supports the Syrian regime.
TURKS IN PAST TWO PILOTS TO BE RELEASED
Earlier in the day, the Turkish foreign minister referred to a nearby settlement for two other hostages , two Turkish Turkish Airlines pilots kidnapped in August in Lebanon.
" Very favorable developments are underway on two Turkish drivers, this matter was largely settled " , he has said on Turkish TV , talking about a possible release " within hours or days to come. "
The two pilots of the Turkish company were kidnapped on August 9 in Beirut by a previously unknown group , who explained that he took the men hostage to force Ankara to put pressure on the kidnappers who hold nine Lebanese Shiite pilgrims