Rifi Rejects Syrian Conditions to Resolve Case of Captive Servicemen
Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi vowed to object on a condition set by Syrian authorities which demanded the Lebanese state to “officially appeal Damascus for help” to engage in a prisoners swap with jihadists to guarantee the safe release of the abducted Lebanese soldiers and policemen.
Rifi stressed in comments to al-Liwaa newspaper on Wednesday that Syria's conditions are “completely rejected.”
The minister said that he will never grant the Syrian regime any “innocent plea... No matter what.”
The Syrian government also demanded the Lebanese army not to hand over to the Free Syrian Army the head of its command council, Colonel Abdullah Rifai, and to revive cooperation with the Syrian military in order to control the border and combat terrorism.
Al-Nusra and the IS groups have been holding several troops and policemen hostage since August 2, when they overran the northeastern border town of Arsal and engaged in bloody clashes with the army.
The two groups have since executed three troops and threatened to murder more hostages if Lebanese authorities didn't fulfill their demands.
The Nusra said that the three-month hostage crisis would end if 10 inmates held at Lebanese prisons would be freed for each hostage or seven Lebanese inmates and 30 female prisoners held in Syria would be released for each abducted soldier and policeman or if five Lebanese and 50 women inmates would be freed.
The group added that the swap with the prisoners held at Syrian prisons should take place in Turkey or Qatar, while the exchange with the Lebanese authorities should take place on the outskirts of Arsal.
The cabinet had previously totally rejected any swap deal with the jihadists.
There are hundreds of Islamist inmates in Roumieh prison awaiting their trials. They were reportedly involved in terrorist acts, including planning suicide attacks, belonging to terrorist groups and other charges.
According to al-Liwaa published on Wednesday, mediators advised the Lebanese state to implement al-Nusra's first condition instead of turning to the Syrian regime for help.
H.K.
G.K.
over 9 years
@humble
Do you know why I was banned?>>>>
over 9 years
rifi is so hateful of syria he'd sacrifice our soldiers and let his boys from nusra decapitate them before he talks to the syrian regime.
over 9 years
hateful eyes so clear in the picture... can't believe m14 bombarded this sectarian corrupt head of police to a ministerial position. they really have no shame
over 9 years
coming from a sectarian like you it is an honor and a medal for Minister Rifi and indicates he is doing the right things
over 9 years
Akeed jabal 10452
over 9 years
Mr Rifi , can you give us just one example of you resisting Syrians when they used to occupy Lebanon ????
just to see how brave and patriotic you are and if not just give us some examples when you obeyed the terrorsits ghazi kanaan and rustom ghazaleh ??!!!!
over 9 years
The minister knows where ISIL, Al Nusra and Daesh members live in Lebanon, the best way is to go and arrest a couple of hundreds from them, and make it clear that if the terrorists touch one hair of our soldiers, WE shall cut the heads off their followers. Why beat around the bush Mr. Rifi?
over 9 years
and your point is what? The article is about cooperation with the syrian regime not about your hatred for Rifi!
over 9 years
Hello guest +phoenix1, were did you see hatred from me towards the honorable minister Rifi? No dear + guest friend, I am not against cooperating to release our boys, but purely and truly fed up with seeing the matter being taken so much advantage of as it is now. You may say that I have militia character still, maybe, but in truth there comes the time when brazen behavior is called for, then let's see what these cowardly terrorists will do.
over 9 years
The Lebanese Army should storm the areas where they could be held captive and fire at anyone opposing them, then repeat it and storm the shia strongholds & look for the wanted terrorists.
over 9 years
Je prends mes rêves pour des réalités.
Lebanon needs a SWAT.
over 9 years
he is right not to accept the conditions of a terrorist state that kills its citizens....
over 9 years
well said @isis-destroyer
Go to hell with Syria.