Free at last
July 14, 2011
Seven Estonian men were freed in Lebanon on Thursday, almost four months after being abducted by armed men as they entered the country on a cycling tour. The Lebanese Foreign Ministry said the men were handed over to a French delegation and were "on their way to Beirut."
"We are relieved to hear the Estonians were released," Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnand Masnrour told the media.
The seven men, all in their 30s, were kidnapped in the industrial city of Zahleh in the lawless Bekaa Valley on March 23, shortly after entering Lebanon via the border with Syria.
Several suspects were later arrested in connection with the case, but there appeared to be no clear leads as to who was behind the kidnapping.
On March 31, a previously unknown group calling itself Haraket Al-Nahda Wal-Islah (Movement of Renewal and Reform) claimed responsibility for the kidnapping in an e-mail sent to the Lebanon Files news website.
The Estonians were shown appealing for help in videos posted on the Internet on April 20 and May 20 before a third video was sent to their relatives on July 8.
Marwan Charbel, Lebanon's interior minister, said he could not confirm reports that a ransom was paid to secure their freedom.
Author: Joanna Impey (AFP, dpa, Reuters)
Editor: Martin Kuebler