Freed Lebanese arrive in Beirut in 24 or 48 hours

The nine Lebanese hostages, who were freed late Friday as part of a negotiated hostage deal that could see two Turkish pilots held by Lebanese militants, are to arrive in Lebanon in 24 or 48 hours, Lebanon's public security chief said here on Saturday. The freed Lebanese people were part of a group of 11 hostages taken by a rebel faction in northern Syria in May 2012. Speaking to a local TV channel, Lebanese Public Security Chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim said: "Turkey is now in charge of the released nine hostages. They are expected to arrive in Lebanon in 24 or 48 hours." The group will return to Lebanon on board a private Qatari jet accompanied by Qatari Foreign Minister Khaled al-Attiyah, Lebanon's official news agency reported. Al-Attiyah said on Friday that his country had helped secure the release of the hostages, who were captured in Aleppo y the Northern Storm brigade, an affiliate of the Free Syrian Army. Two were later released. Relatives of the Lebanese hostages gathered on Friday night in Beirut's southern neighborhood of Bir al-Abed to celebrate the long-awaited release of their loved ones