3 Syrians released in central Bekaa

Three Syrians, who were kidnapped 18 days ago in the central Bekaa valley in eastern Lebanon, were released at dawn Wednesday after the payment of ransom to the abductors, the National News Agency reported. NNA said the three men kidnapped along with a fourth - released immediately after the abduction that took place on the Taanayel-Chtaura road on Feb. 11 - were transferred to the army intelligence headquarters to hear their testimonies. The agency did not specify the amount of the ransom paid to the abductors. The men have been identified as brothers Osama, Imad and Hisham Abdul Raouf and their employee Khaled al-Hamadeh. But the kidnappers later released 50-year-old Osama on the Ablah main road tasking him with bringing a 2-million-dollar ransom in return for setting free his brothers and al-Hamadeh. NNA said that the kidnappers released the three men in an area in the central Bekaa without specifying the location. The four Syrians were in their black Mazda four-wheeler carrying the 801162 Syrian license plate when gunmen in a green Envoy SUV intercepted them. The Mazda is registered in Osama’s name.