BEIRUT: Relatives of the Lebanese hostages in Syria suspended Thursday their sit-ins outside offices linked to Turkey after the head of General Security reassured them of positive developments in the case of their loved ones. However, the families said the suspension would not entail an end to their protests, which have disrupted the work of Turkish Airlines and the Turkish Cultural Center in Downtown Beirut.
They added that they would continue similar actions until their loved ones were released.
Adham Zogheib, the son of one of the kidnapped Lebanese, said the head of General Security, Brig. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim, had promised the relatives that he would head to Syria in the next two days in a new attempt to resolve the case, according to the NNA.
Ibrahim, according to Zogheib, also said he would work to secure the largest political support possible to ensure the success of his mission with the Syrian leadership.
Eleven Lebanese Shiite pilgrims were kidnapped by Syrian rebels on May 21 last year as they crossed through Aleppo, northern Syria. Two have been released so far.
The kidnappers recently demanded the release of 371 women detainees held in Syrian prisons in exchange for the Lebanese pilgrims. Ibrahim is expected to begin talks with Damascus over the list of women.
Zogheib also renewed the families’ warning that if the Lebanese “do not return before May 22, every Turkish national in Lebanon is our target ... because we are fed up.
“[If they don’t return] then we will end our ethical and peaceful protests.”
The families argue that Turkey, a strong supporter of the opposition, should leverage its influence over the rebels to release the kidnapped men.
Earlier Thursday, police blocked the main road around the offices of Turkish Airlines and the Cultural Center in Downtown Beirut.
The police officers blocked the road outside the Turkish offices and rerouted traffic at 8 a.m. to prevent a conflict between the families and the employees in the offices.
Demonstrators extended the protest and managed to block the rerouted road, briefly stopping all traffic in the area.

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10/05/2013
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2013/May-10/216527-relatives-of-kidnapped-hostages-to-end-anti-turkey-sit-in.ashx