Charbel: Abductors of the Lebanese pilgrims had no demands

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Lebanon Interior Minister Marwan Charbel told Al-Jadeed television station on Friday that the Abductors of the Lebanese Shiite pilgrims in Aleppo , Syria did not ask for anything in return for their release.

“We are not aware of any information on any ransom demand in return for the release of the abductees,” Charbel said.

“We will figure out who is behind the kidnap,” he added in response to a question about the identity of the abductors

Charbel also priased Future Movement leader MP Saad Hariri’s role in releasing the kidnapped.

“Hariri’s approach was that the kidnapped are innocent Lebanese, his initiative opened a new page,” he said.

The kidnapped Lebanese are expected to arrive soon at Beirut airport on board the private jet of former PM Saad Hariri. The jet reportedly left from Cyprus to pick them up but there were some delays in Turkey. The plane was supposed to arrive in Lebanon at around 8: 00 pm Beirut time ( 1:00 pm US eastern time) . Hundreds are waiting at the airport to greet them.

Residents of Beirut southern suburbs (Dahiyeh) are reportedly waiting impatiently for their arrival. Roads were cut off in Dahiyeh in order to organize celebrations; Amal Movement and Hezbollah flags were raised earlier on Friday amid chants and fireworks that lit the sky of Dahiyeh.

Among officials waiting at the airport’s VIP Lounge: representatives of both President Michel Suleiman and PM Najib Mikati, Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour representing House Speaker Nabih Berri and Future bloc’s Secretary General Ahmad Hariri in addition to MPs from Amal and Hezbollah

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