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Lebanon hostage deal almost "finalized": General Security chief

Xinhua, May 9, 2015 Adjust font size:

Lebanon's General Security chief Major General Abbas Ibrahim said Friday that a swap deal to release Lebanese servicemen being held hostage by the Islamist militants since August is almost concluded.

"We are racing time to finalize the process of freeing the captive servicemen before any security development happens in the Qalamoun border region," Ibrahim told a delegation from the Lebanese press Syndicate.

"We were in contact with the Qatari mediator last night and he told us positive news about this issue. And I can confirm that the servicemen are safe... I don't want to set a date, but God willing, a solution is imminent," he added.

The General Security chief also noted that the file has been finalized "except for the implementation mechanism."

At least 32 soldiers and policemen were abducted by militants from the al-Qaida linked al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State (IS) during clashes with the Lebanese army in the northeastern border town of Arsal in August 2014.

Al-Nusra executed later four soldiers while the IS beheaded another one.

Last week, the hostages held by al-Nusra warned in a video tape that they would be executed if Hezbollah and the Syrian army wage an operation in the Qalamoun region.

"The video that surfaced days ago will not affect us, our morale or the course of negotiations," Ibrahim said, adding that he is seeking to finish the deal "in a manner that preserves Lebanese sovereignty and laws." Endit