Released hostage returns to hero\'s welcome

Second hostage released , demanding Abu Ibrahim to launch an initiative Beirut – Georges Chahin The second Shiite hostage to be freed, Awad Ibrahim, arrived back in Beirut to a hero’s reception on Tuesday evening after his release in the city of Ezaz, in Northern Syria, 72 hours earlier. The first, Hussien Omar, was released a month ago while the destiny of the other nine hostages is still unknown.
The man responsible for their detention, Abu Ibrahim, has stipulated that their release is contingent on issues with Hezbollah being resolved, in particular an apology by the Secretary-General of the Lebanese organistion, Hassan Nasrallah, to the Syrian people.
The released hostage, who returned on board a Turkish plane accompanied by a security team from the Ministry of Interior and Public Security, was officially received at the airport by the Interior Minister, Marwan Charbel, the Director General of Public Security, Major General Abbas Ibrahim, and his close family. There were also two MPs from the Hermel-Baalbek constituency in attendance, Ali Miqdad and Amal Ghazi Zaiter, the birthplace of Awad Irabhim.
While clearly seeing this as a positive development, Charbel was keen to point out that “our joy is not yet complete. We hope to secure the release of the rest of the hostages in Ezaz and Hassan Miqdad from Damascus. We are in daily contact with the Turkish authorities, whom we thank for their help, despite the difficulties they are facing.”
He also stressed that the Lebanese President, the Speaker of the Parliament, the Ministerial Committee in charge of this case, and the Government as a whole are doing their best to resolve the issue and release all the hostages as soon as possible.
He then added, “I want to thank everyone who has contributed to the release of Awad Ibrahim, especially former Prime Minister Saad Al Hariri who has been doing his utmost, contacting me everyday, to try and solve the security situation in Lebanon.
“I hope that Abu Ibrahim will feel sorry when he realises that those abducted are innocent, instead of requesting Hassan Nasrallah to apologise.”
Awad Ibrahim said in a statement at Beirut Airport: “I must thank the Lebanese media who have supported our cause to the end and we pray for the release all of our comrades.”
He and his family then travelled to al-Selm, southern Beirut, where a mob of the friends and relatives were gathered outside his home, cheering for him on his arrival.
At his house, Awad Ibrahim again demanded that Abu Ibrahim, who he described as a kind father who is treating all the hostages as guests and friends, to release the rest of the kidnapped.
Ibrahim thanked the Association of Muslim Scholars and former PM Hariri, as well as the Director General of the Public Security and the Interior Minister.
A concerned source told Arabstoday that they believed the best method to solve the current situation would be to adopt silence, as Nasrallah continues his refusal to apologise. They advised the families of the kidnapped to continue to be patience and to wait for developments that shall aide the hostages’ release.
They also suggested that Turkey has refused to interfere completely in the matter, lest it goes from being a mediator into one of the involved parties in the dispute, fearing diplomatic and political strain.