| By Hussein Dakroub, Mohammad Zaatari |
BEIRUT: Liban Lait CEO Ahmad Zeidan was released unharmed Sunday, four days after he was kidnapped by masked gunmen in the Bekaa Valley. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri played a key role in Zeidan’s release, which took place with no financial ransom paid to the kidnappers.
The Lebanese Army released Zeidan at 5 a.m. Sunday in Al-Tufayl area near the Lebanese-Syrian border following hit-and-run operations with the kidnappers throughout the night, the state-run National News Agency reported.
An army statement said Zeidan was released after troops carried out raids in Baalbek’s mountainous areas. “The army continues its raids to arrest all those who participated in the kidnapping,” the statement said.
Zeidan, the 60-year-old CEO of the country’s largest dairy farm, was snatched Wednesday by four masked gunmen as he was traveling with his driver, Wissam Wafiq Habbal, in a black Volkswagen in the Bekaa’s Talia Valley. The kidnapping took place some 200 meters from the Liban Lait factory. The kidnappers were three Lebanese and a Syrian.
Soon after his release, Zeidan, accompanied by his brother Mohammad, a well-known wealthy businessman, met with Berri at his residence in Ain al-Tineh to thank him for his efforts that led to his freedom. They were escorted during the trip from the Bekaa to Beirut by Amal official Bassam Tleis.
Berri spent the whole night Saturday making intensive contacts to secure Zeidan’s release, NNA said.
Speaking to reporters after meeting Zeidan, Berri said he made contacts for more than two days, aside from his efforts Saturday night to secure Zeidan’s release.
“I thank our people in the Bekaa who fulfilled our strong desire and insistence to put an end to this crime which was designed to leave bad repercussions on the Lebanese situation in general, and the Bekaa in particular,” Berri said. He also thanked the army and security forces, which he said cooperated with the Amal Movement to reach “this happy end.”
Asked about the kidnappers, Berri said: “There is a professional gang that uses individuals. This matter will be the main preoccupation of the relevant security forces.”
Berri said no ransom was paid for Zeidan’s freedom and rejected the accusation that the Bekaa was a haven for criminals. “There are attempts to tinge some big and haughty towns in the Bekaa with a criminal cover. The fact is that there are honorable people and respectable tribes in these towns. But unfortunately there are a few people who distort the town’s [reputation],” he added.
Zeidan’s brother, Mohammad, said they came to thank Berri, who he said had used “all his connections in the [Bekaa] and with the army and security forces to secure Ahmad’s safe return.”
“All [security] apparatuses, the army and security forces, were fully cooperating with us. We also thank Prime Minister Mikati for the contacts he held with us,” he told reporters after the meeting with Berri.
Both Berri’s Amal Movement and Hezbollah wield great influence in the Bekaa region.
Mohammad said no ransom was paid for the kidnappers. He said the kidnappers demanded a ransom but their demand was not met.
Ahmad Zeidan, with bruises on his face, confirmed that his kidnappers had demanded a ransom. He said he suffered some bruises on his face after he fell on the snow-covered ground at night while he was being released by his abductors. He said he did not know where he was held during his captivity because his eyes were covered.
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