BEIRUT: The Meqdad clan warned
Monday that it would take action after Eid al-Fitr if a kidnapped relative in
Syria is not freed.
“The Meqdad family has decided to
give diplomacy a chance,” clan spokesperson Maher Meqdad told The Daily Star by
telephone.
“But if diplomacy fails, the story
will be different,” he stressed, adding that he will announce the clan’s future
course of action during a news conference Thursday “when the holiday is over.”
Maher said Foreign Minister Adnan
Mansour asked the Medqads to give the Lebanese government the opportunity to
pursue a diplomatic solution until after the Eid al-Fitr holiday.
Maher would not specify what action
the Meqdads might take in the event Hassan Meqdad, held captive by the Free
Syrian Army (FSA) in Syria, is not freed.
“The family will meet after the
holiday and make decisions,” he said, adding that the measures taken by the
Meqdads would be carried out by the clan’s armed wing.
Asked whether this meant a return to
kidnappings, Maher said: “Everything [will be decided] in good time.”
The Meqdads announced before Eid
al-Fitr that the number of Syrians they are holding is more than 20, in
addition to a Turkish citizen. They said that they had released over 20 Syrians
after determining that the men were not affiliated with the Free Syrian Army
(FSA).
The spree of kidnappings took place
last week in retaliation for the kidnapping of Hassan in Damascus.
Al-Arabiya television station
reported Tuesday that the FSA arrested Hassan, described as a Hezbollah member
who crossed into Syria as part of a 1,500-member group the members of which
later dispersed to Damascus, Aleppo and Homs.
The Dubai-based TV channel aired
what it described as “confessions” by Hassan regarding his alleged involvement
in Syria.
Hassan, who was shown in the video
with three armed FSA members standing behind him, said that Hezbollah chief
Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah asked him and others to go to Syria and fight alongside
the Syrian regime.
The Meqdads and Hezbollah deny that
Hassan is a member of the resistance party.
In his comments Monday, Maher stressed that the
clan would not release its Turkish hostage unless Hassan is released.http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/2012/Aug-20/185104-meqdads-warn-chances-for-diplomacy-receding.ashx#axzz245GhTCxA
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