Estonia's Foreign Ministry confirmed Thursday that seven of its citizens held for almost four months in Lebanon had been freed and were being cared for in the French embassy in Beirut.
"All seven Estonian citizens kidnapped in Lebanon in March were freed early Thursday morning," ministry spokesperson Minna-Liina Lind told AFP.
"The seven Estonians are at the embassy of France at the moment" she added.
According to Future News local television, the Estonian Foreign Ministry said the release of its country’s citizens was a result of cooperation with Lebanon and other partners.
Earlier Thursday, a Lebanese police officer who had asked to remain anonymous told AFP all seven had been freed in the town of Arsal, in the eastern Bekaa Valley and appeared to be in good health.
The men, all in their 30s, were kidnapped on March 23 while on a cycling holiday in the same region.
The abductors – believed to be a previously unknown fundamentalist group called Haraket al-Nahda Wal-Islah (Movement for Renewal and Reform) – had reportedly demanded a ransom.
-AFP/NOW Lebanon
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