Ya Libnan

Estonian tourists kidnapped in Lebanon appeal for help

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Seven Estonian tourists, who were kidnapped while cycling in Lebanon over three weeks ago, have appeared in a video begging for help.

The video, which was posted on YouTube, shows the men pleading with Lebanese, Saudi, Jordanian and French leaders to help secure their release.

The seven men went missing on 23 March when cycling in the Bekaa Valley after entering Lebanon from Syria.

The motive for their abduction remains unclear.

Wearing sports clothes and appearing in front of a white background, the Estonians take it in turns to ask for help.

“This is a really difficult situation. Please do anything,” one said.

“It appears from the video that all seven abducted Estonians are alive and well. However it is not known when the clip was recorded,” the Estonian Foreign minister, Urmas Paet, said in a statement.

“The message did not include the conditions of the victims’ release, any demands, or information on who is behind the abduction,” he said.

Hostages

The video appeared on the internet hours after the minister met officials in Lebanon, where he had been told there were no new leads.

It is not clear whether the kidnappings are politically motivated.

A group known as Haraket al-Nahda Wal-Islah (Movement for Renewal and Reform) has claimed responsibility for the incident, but the claim has not been authenticated by security officials.

Eleven Lebanese were charged with the kidnapping last week.

During Lebanon’s civil war, at least 88 foreigners were taken hostage between 1984 and 1990, including the journalist John McCarthy and peace envoy Terry Waite.

The Bekaa Valley is known for lawlessness, drug trafficking and feuds between the powerful clans which control the region’s hashish plantations.

BBC

This is the link to the video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIHXHk4c5Gw&feat

The video was removed because its content violated YouTube’s Terms of Service.

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Comments

7 responses to “Estonian tourists kidnapped in Lebanon appeal for help”

  1. ghzayel Avatar
    ghzayel

    it is very sad and shocking to see and hear the 7 estonians accused of no wrong doings pleading for their lives after being kidnapped for few weaks now.

    it is a bad moment in history for lebanon that delt a serious blow to its world wide reputation as a peaceful touristic destination.

    some group or some body in lebanon should bear responsibility for this tragic episode.

    eventhough they didnt have the necessary political cover, the security agencies and the army failed so miserably in their job of protecting people and apprehending the criminals.

    hizballah, the palestinian armed factions and or all the illegal armed groups in lebanon,are directly or indirectly paving the way for such illegal actions to happen by creating a rebellious military situation thus undermining the legal authorities and setting under the pretext of one political ideology or another a negative and bad example in the country to follow .

  2. Avatar
    Anonymous

    it is very sad and shocking to see and hear the 7 estonians accused of no wrong doings pleading for their lives after being kidnapped for few weaks now.

    it is a bad moment in history for lebanon that delt a serious blow to its world wide reputation as a peaceful touristic destination.

    some group or some body in lebanon should bear responsibility for this tragic episode.

    eventhough they didnt have the necessary political cover, the security agencies and the army failed so miserably in their job of protecting people and apprehending the criminals.

    hizballah, the palestinian armed factions and or all the illegal armed groups in lebanon,are directly or indirectly paving the way for such illegal actions to happen
    by creating a rebellious military situation against the legal authorities and setting under the pretext of one political ideology or another a negative and bad example in the country.

  3. guss043 Avatar
    guss043

    They want money, we have some much dirt in Lebanon that start from Dahie to Bekaa that need to be vacuumed from the face of the earth

  4. guss043 Avatar
    guss043

    They want money, we have some much dirt in Lebanon that start from Dahie to Bekaa that need to be vacuumed from the face of the earth

  5. antar2011 Avatar
    antar2011

    the pple who do not want good for lebanon and th elebanese are making sure the country is destroyed in every angle and every sense possible.

    this episode is no difference.

    i just feel sorry for myself first and for all those who believed that lebanon will actually change.

    truely there will never come another person like rafiq harriri who believes in lebanon like he did. may Allah have mercy upon him.

  6. Avatar
    Anonymous

    the pple who do not want good for lebanon and th elebanese are making sure the country is destroyed in every angle and every sense possible.

    this episode is no difference.

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