Qatari Delegation in Beirut on Tuesday as Ibrahim Cites Progress

A Qatari delegation is expected to arrive on Tuesday in Lebanon after a short one-day visit to Doha by a Lebanese delegation headed by Prime Minister Tammam Salam.

The delegation, according to An Nahar newspaper, is set to follow up the case of the Lebanese soldiers and policemen abducted by jihadists.

The soldiers and policemen were taken captive by Islamist militants in August in light of clashes in Arsal between the army and the gunmen who infiltrated the town from Syria.

A few of the captives have since been released, while two others were beheaded, prompting a backlash against Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

A ministerial panel has been tasked with following up the case.

General Security Director General Major Abbas Ibrahim, who accompanied Salam to Qatar but remained there to thoroughly discuss the case of abductees, stressed that Qatar kicked off negotiations with al-Nusra Front group and jihadists from the Islamic State of the Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

He pointed out that progress has been achieved, saying: “The kidnappers have some crippling conditions.”

Abbas revealed that al-Nusra Front has different conditions than those set by the ISIL group.

The General Security chief reportedly remained in Qatar to meet with a visiting Turkish officials.

The premier hoped on Sunday that the case of abductees would make a “step forward,” reiterating his call for patience and national unity to help Qatar mediate for their release.

H.K.

G.K.