Lebanese Shiites kidnapped in Syria to be 'freed soon'

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is reportedly in talks to release kidnapped Lebanese Lebanese foreign minister Adnan Mansur said Wednesday that a group of Lebanese Shiite Muslims kidnapped in Syria would be freed "within hours." Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah earlier urged restraint after Tuesday's kidnappings sparked protests by thousands of people here.
"According to information provided by an Arab country those kidnapped will be free within hours," Mansur told Al-Jadeed, a private satellite television station.
He identified the men behind the abductions as "a splinter group of the armed Syrian opposition," but did not give details.
The abductions of the pilgrims -- news reports put their number at between 11 and 13 -- were feared to further fuel sectarian tensions in Lebanon over the revolt in neighbouring Syria.
They were kidnapped as they headed home to Lebanon from a pilgrimage in Iran and the news prompted their families and thousands of supporters to pour out into the streets of Beirut's mainly Shiite southern suburbs to demand their release.
However, the Free Syrian Army, which is seeking the overthrow of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's regime, on Wednesday denied abducting a group of Shiite Lebanese pilgrims.
"The FSA is not at all responsible for the operation," Mustafa al-Sheikh, a high-ranking FSA officer, told AFP by telephone from Istanbul.
"This is an attempt to distort the image of the FSA. The FSA does not believe in this methodology," said the head of the group's military council.
Lebanon's state news agency on Tuesday reported that the FSA had abducted 13 pilgrims in Syria's northern Aleppo province.
Syrian state media too blamed the FSA for the abductions, which are feared to heighten sectarian tensions in Lebanon over the revolt in neighbouring Syria.
Sheikh said the Syrian regime "treats the FSA as a scapegoat. We condemn this abduction, which does not represent the values of the (Syrian) revolution."
The kidnapping "is no doubt the work of the regime, which wants to sow chaos in the region," Sheikh added.
Syria's main opposition coalition issued a statement Wednesday calling for the prompt release of the group, adding that it too believed the Syrian regime could be involved in the kidnapping.
The Syrian National Council "does not think it is impossible that the regime is involved in this operation," in order to sow "disorder" in neighbouring Lebanon, the group said. Protesters blocked several roads, including the old airport road, with burning tyres and garbage bins. The roads were reopened later in the evening.
Nasrallah, a strong ally of the embattled regime in Damascus, appealed for calm and said his Shiite militant party was doing its utmost to ensure the safe release of the men.
"I call on everyone to show restraint," Nasrallah said in a televised speech. "It is not acceptable for anyone to block roads or carry out violent acts."
Nasrallah said contacts were underway with Syrian authorities and other countries in the region for a speedy resolution.
"We will work day and night until our beloved are back with us," he vowed.
Nasrallah said Hezbollah was also in contact with prime minister Najib Mikati, whose government is dominated by the powerful militant group.
"The Lebanese state and government have a responsibility to work toward the release of those kidnapped," he said.
Nasrallah urged his followers not to carry out revenge attacks against Syrians in Lebanon.
Syrian state media said the kidnapping took place near the town of Aazaz, which sits along the border with Turkey saying that the men were part of a group of 53 pilgrims on board two buses.
The 36 women  women among the group  were allowed to go free and returned to Beirut by plane early Wednesday.
"After crossing the border between Turkey and Syria, we saw a white car pull up with men armed with Kalashnikovs inside" one female pilgrim said. "They told us they wanted to protect us from Syrian shelling. Then they handcuffed the men and lined them up against a wall."
Most women said the men presented themselves as belonging to the FSA.
"They terrorised us," said one of them.
Hezbollah MP Mohammad Raad, who was at the airport to welcome the women, said there were signs the matter would be settled "quickly."
Raad would not be drawn on whether rebels were behind the kidnapping.
Activists in Aleppo reached by AFP via Skype said Aazaz was undergoing fierce shelling Tuesday evening by regime forces who stormed the town.
Nasrallah said it was necessary for all Lebanese to remain calm.
"The atmosphere is tense because of the events of recent days," he said. "Everyone is urged not to make matters worse."
Ex-premier Saad Hariri, who heads the anti-Assad opposition in Lebanon, denounced the kidnapping saying:
"We condemn the kidnapping of our Lebanese brothers in Syria, regardless of the party behind the kidnapping, and we call for their immediate release," he said in a statement.