Lebanese authorities continue search for kidnapped Estonians

Lebanese authorities continue search for kidnapped Estonians

2011-03-25 00:42:06 GMT+7 (ICT)

BEIRUT (BNO NEWS) -- The Lebanese Army on Thursday launched an intense search for seven Estonians who were kidnapped in the central Bekaa Valley on Wednesday, the Daily Star reported.

According to witnesses, individuals in two white vans and a dark Mercedes 300 with no license plates forced the Estonians, who were cycling, into the vehicles, a few hours after they entered Lebanon from Syria via the Masnaa border crossing. The bicycles and belongings of the captives were found by security personnel at the scene.

The state-run National News Agency reported that the army and the Internal Security Forces raided several places in the mountainous areas of the village of Kfar Zabad and nearby areas. A military base belonging to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)-General Command is located in the area.

The PFLP issued a statement in which it strongly denied the Europeans were in its custody and condemned the abduction.

Estonia's consul in Lebanon, Samih Qamouh, confirmed to the Daily Star that seven Estonians had gone missing.

There is still no information concerning the reason for the abduction. A senior security source, however, expressed fears to the Daily Star that the abduction could be related to threats made by Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi against Western civilians in retaliation for Western-led airstrikes.

Lebanon saw a wave of kidnappings which targeted Western nationals in the mid-1980s. Last September, two Polish tourists were briefly abducted.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-03-25