Estonians kidnapped in Lebanon plead for their release in new video

Estonians kidnapped in Lebanon plead for their release in new video

2011-05-20 22:45:27 GMT+7 (ICT)

BEIRUT (BNO NEWS) -- Seven Estonian tourists kidnapped in Lebanon called on their government in a video message to help secure their release, the Baltic Times reported on Friday.

All seven men appear alive and well in the video released by the kidnappers, yet one of them said that they remain in "great danger".

"This is really hard for us, and we are very tired and in great danger. We ask our families and all people who know us to help us in any way to get out from here", said one of the hostages in the video, which was recorded on May 16.

"And we ask them to push the Estonian government to help us out from this jail, as the Estonian government has left us and does not want to help us anymore".

The video appeared on 4shared.com, whereas the previous video had been posted on YouTube. The IP address of the previous video had been traced to Syria.

The video came as Estonia's Foreign Minister Urmas Paet met in Rome with Secretary General of the Lebanese Foreign Ministry William Habib, with whom he discussed matters related to the abduction of Estonian citizens in Lebanon.

A group calling itself Haraket El Nahda Wal Islah, meaning the Movement for Renewal and Reform, has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. No specific demands have been made by the group, however.

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 on March 23. The bicycles and belongings of the captives were found by security personnel at the scene.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-05-20