Turkey backs 9 Shiite hostages in Syria

Turkish ambassador to Lebanon Inan Ozyildiz has expressed his willingness to help end Lebanon’s ongoing kidnapping crisis, following meetings with Interior Minister Marwan Charbel in Beirut. Nine Lebanese Shiites were abducted inside Syria last year and have been held ever since. Interior Minister Marwan Charbel reportedly discussed efforts to resolve the crisis with Ozyildiz at his ministry office. In mid-April, Ozyildiz had pledged Turkey’s support behind the case: ““There are no updates over the case but we are following up, especially after the actions of [the hostage’s] relatives. We are upholding efforts in this area.” “We consider the hostages our brothers and unlike what is being circulated, we are not complicating the matter but are helping to resolve it.” The statement comes after families of the nine captives protested outside Turkish authorities’ buildings in Beirut for the second week in a row.