Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour said Wednesday that a
group of Lebanese Shiite Muslims kidnapped in Syria would be freed "within
hours."
Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah earlier urged restraint after
Tuesday's kidnappings sparked protests by thousands of people here.
"According to information provided by an Arab country those
kidnapped will be free within hours," Mansour told al-Jadeed.
He identified the men behind the abductions as "a splinter
group of the armed Syrian opposition," but did not give details.
The abductions of the pilgrims -- news reports put their number at
between 11 and 13 -- were feared to further fuel sectarian tensions in Lebanon
over the revolt in neighboring Syria.
They were kidnapped as they headed home to Lebanon from a
pilgrimage in Iran and the news prompted their families and thousands of
supporters to pour out into the streets of Beirut's mainly Shiite southern
suburbs to demand their release.
Protesters blocked several roads, including the old airport road,
with burning tires and garbage bins. The roads were reopened later in the
evening.
The National News Agency said the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA), which
is seeking the overthrow of President Bashar Assad's regime, had abducted 13
pilgrims in northern Aleppo province.
Syrian media said an "armed terrorist gang" had
kidnapped 11 Lebanese and their Syrian driver.
Nasrallah, a strong ally of the embattled regime in Damascus,
appealed for calm and said his party was doing its utmost to ensure the safe
release of the men.
"I call on everyone to show restraint," Nasrallah said
in a televised speech. "It is not acceptable for anyone to block roads or
carry out violent acts."
Nasrallah said contacts were underway with Syrian authorities and
other countries in the region for a quick resolution.
"We will work day and night until those beloved are back with
us," he vowed.
Nasrallah said Hizbullah was also in contact with Prime Minister
Najib Miqati.
"The Lebanese state and government have a responsibility to
work toward the release of those kidnapped," he said.
Nasrallah urged his followers not to carry out revenge attacks
against Syrians in Lebanon.
Syrian state media said the kidnapping took place near the town of
Aazaz, which sits along the border with Turkey. It said the men were part of a
group of 53 pilgrims on board two buses.
The women were allowed to go free and returned to Beirut by plane
early Wednesday.
Among the pilgrims were 36 women, one of them said shortly after
their arrival.
"After crossing the border between Turkey and Syria, we saw a
white car pull up with men armed with Kalashnikovs inside," she said.
"They told us they wanted to protect us from Syrian shelling. Then they
handcuffed the men and lined them up against a wall."
Most women said the men presented themselves as belonging to the
FSA.
"They terrorized us," said one of them.
Hizbullah MP Mohammed Raad, who was at the airport to welcome the
women, said there were signs the matter would be settled "quickly."
Raad would not be drawn on whether rebels were behind the
kidnapping when asked.
"We don't want to go into details of who is behind the
abductions to make their release easier," he said. "We'll deal with
that later."
Activists in Aleppo reached by Agence France Presse via Skype said
Aazaz was undergoing fierce shelling Tuesday evening by regime forces who
stormed the town.
The brother of one of those kidnapped said the FSA had vowed to release
the men in exchange for rebels detained by Syrian authorities.
FSA spokesmen could not be reached for comment late Tuesday.
Miqati's office said he was making the necessary contacts to
ensure the release of the men.
"Prime Minister Miqati has urged families of the kidnapped to
remain calm and assured them he was following the issue closely to ensure the
safety of those abducted and their quick release," a statement said.
The kidnapping took place amid heightened tension in Lebanon over
the Syrian crisis.
Clashes between the pro- and anti-Assad camps in the country have
left some 12 people dead in the past 10 days.
Nasrallah said it was necessary for all Lebanese to remain calm.
"The atmosphere is tense because of the events of recent
days," he said. "Everyone is urged not to make matters worse."
Ex-premier Saad Hariri, who heads the anti-Assad opposition in
Lebanon, denounced the kidnapping and called for the men's immediate release.
"We condemn the kidnapping of our Lebanese brothers in Syria,
regardless of the party behind the kidnapping, and we call for their immediate
release," he said in a statement.
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