LBN56003

Families of Lebanese servicemen taken hostage by the Islamic State group blocked the vital highway between Tripoli and Beirut on Tuesday, amid reports that negotiations with the al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front have nearly settled on releasing several troops in a prisoner exchange.

The families blocked the key highway in both directions in the al-Qalamoun area, just outside Tripoli, declaring that the road would remain closed until 8:00 pm.

Security forces meanwhile diverted traffic to the seaside road.

Nizam Mughit, a family member of one of the hostages, said the relatives cut off the road to press authorities to unveil the fate of their loved ones.

“We blocked the road to know if the servicemen are still alive and the coming days will witness escalatory steps that will surprise them,” Mughit warned.

"The families are preparing escalatory steps that will 'burn you'. You will find us outside your doors and no one will be able to repress us,” he vowed, addressing Lebanese officials.

Earlier in the day, Mughit told Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3): “We want to wake up from the sleep of promises we are receiving,”

The protest comes amid claims by informed sources that the negotiations carried out by Qatar's mediator with al-Nusra Front officials have settled on releasing 16 servicemen in return for setting free 16 Islamists from Lebanon's Roumieh prison.

The troops and policemen were taken hostage by al-Nusra and IS militants when they overran the northeastern border town of Arsal in August last year. Four of them were executed.

The sources told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat that Qatar's envoy has promised to do all he can to bring a happy ending to the hostages file.

But his talks with al-Nusra Front's officials took a difficult turn when the militant group raised the number of prisoners it wants to be released from Roumieh to 20, said the sources.

Talks with the IS have reached a standstill because of the group's crippling demands.

http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/182188

Families protesting continued kidnapping of their sons by Nusra gunmen, have decided to let through traffic on Qalamoun highway, NNA Field reporters just said.

The seafront road closed by them for the past couple of days now witnesses a normal traffic flow into the north, the same reporters concluded.

http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/37513/Families-now-let-traffic-th...

Kidnapped serviceman Ibrahim Mghait's family closed in both directions on Saturday at Qalamoun region the International highway which links Tripoli to Beirut, National News Agency correspondent said.

http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/37461/Kidnapped-serviceman-Mghait...

The families of the kidnapped soldiers cut off the international highway of Qalamoun in both directions, diverting traffic to the old sea way.
http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/34549/Kidnapped-soldiers-39-famil...

A 4-hour closure between 12:00 - 15:00 p.m. has been decided by families of the kidnapped soldiers, the Traffic management Control (TMC) announced.

All traffic will be rerouted during the protest to the seaside road, the TMC said.
http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/34329/four-hour-closure-of-Qalamo...

The families of kidnapped soldiers cutoff Qalamoun-Tripoli road in both directions, and diverted traffic to the sea-side road.
http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/33934/Relatives-of-abducted-soldi...

The relatives of kidnapped soldier, Ibrahim Mghit, on Monday set up a big tent in the middle of the International Highway that links Tripoli to Beirut, with plans to carry out an open strike until the release of their son.
http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/33606/Family-of-kidnapped-soldier...

The soldier's relatives kidnapped by ISIL, closed Qalamoun highway to the south of Tripoli to traffic by setting up a tent in the middle of the road, NNA field reporters said.

Angry relatives held a press conference to press demands for an immediate release and safe return of all kidnapped soldiers.
http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/33577/Families-of-kidnapped-soldi...

On the 30th of August the people of Fnaydek in Aakar took the streets on Saturday and used their cars to block the main road at Mouhammara Bridge in Tripoli in a public protest against the prolonged detention of abducted soldiers. They also set a tent in the middle of Abdeh highway at Mohammara crossing, and said that they would stay there until their kidnapped beloved ones were released, pointing that they "would not back from this decision before reaching a quick solution to this humane file. A similar protests took place in Mash'ha where locals protested against the kidnapping of Lebanese Army soldier, Ibrahim Mustapha Shaaban, from their town, demanding his release along with all other soldiers who were abducted by terrorist groups in Arsal, and in Baalbeck where families closed Riak - Baalbeck International road in both directions next to Talia police station. Similarly, on Sunday the 31st of August the families of soldiers held hostage by Syrian militants took to the streets and cut-off the international highway in Housh Sneid in Baalbek, blocking traffic on both ways and demanding the release of their sons. On the 1st of September, the relatives of the kidnapped military men cut off the roads of Mhamra, Abdeh, Wadi Jamous, maritime road in Akkar. In Qalamoun, the relatives of the kidnapped military men cut off the road both ways demanding the release of captured Army troops and security personnel and in Choueifat, the family of the abducted soldier Abbas Msheik cut off the road with burning tires, pressing for the release of their son and the remaining abducted military men. On the 2nd of September, the family of Hajj Hassan cut off the north Bekaa road at the entrance of Shaat town in the region of Hrebta, in protest at threats to slaughter Ali Hajj Hassan, a soldier from the family who has been kidnapped by the terrorist groups in Arsal. Also, a group of relatives of the abducted military and security elements tried to kidnap 18 Syrians in Shmestar and locked them inside a warehouse, but the Syrians managed to break the door of the warehouse and escape. On the 3rd of September, Tripoli-Akkar highway and Abdeh-Halba highway were cut off on Wednesday morning in solidarity with the captured military men. Also, Nahr Al-Kaleb River road has been blocked by protesters who voiced utter objection against all the politicians refusing to negotiate with militants to ensure the release of the kidnapped military men. This move came at the hands of the participants in the convoy carrying the corps of late army martyr Ali Al-Sayyed."

http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/32576/Nahr-alKaleb-road-blocked-p...

http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/32573/Roads-in-Tripoli-cut-off-in...

http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/32512/18-Syrians-foil-abduction-a...

http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/32378/Riak-Baalbeck-road-closed-t...

http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/32369/Fnaydek-town-39-people-cut-...

http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/32373/Kidnapped-soldiers-39-famil...

http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/32406/Mash-39-ha-Highway-cutoff-t...

http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/32409/Families-of-abducted-soldie...

http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/32416/Families-of-abducted-soldie...

http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/32447/Relatives-of-kidnapped-mili...

http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/32448/Relatives-of-captured-milit...

http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/32495/Msheik-family-block-Choueif...

http://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/en/show-news/32539/Shaat-road-cut-off-in-prote...