Possibility of release for Lebanese journalist

LBC correspondent Fida Itani Beirut - Georges Chahine LBC correspondent Fida Itani could soon be released, a source told Arabstoday Lebanese and Syrian media sources could not confirm this information. Fida Itani, a Lebanese journalist for Lebanese Broadcast Corporation (LBC) was abducted by Syrian rebels in Aleppo on Saturday. The journalist has been placed ‘placed under house arrest’ by a rebel group led by Abu Ibrahim, which operate in the Aleppo district of Azzaz. The rebel group released a statement in which they claim that Itani’s work was not suitable with the course of the Syrian revolution. "Itani was placed under house arrest for a short period of time.” Itani’s journalist work does not show any support for the Syrian regime. He only appears to be undesirable in areas controlled by rebels. In a phone call between LBC and Abu Ibrahim – whose name became well-known after he abducted nine Shiites, Ibrahim said that Itani was taking too many pictures of the rebels’ operations in Aleppo as he was following a group of FSA militants. Fida Itani built strong ties with Salafi and extremist group when he was reporting for the Lebanese newspaper El Akhbar in 2006. He joined LBC at the beginning of the Syrian revolution. Lebanese minister of Labor Salim Jreissati has launched a ministerial inquiry into abductions in Syria. A first inquiry was launched in August in order to investigate the abductions of Lebanese nationals in Syria. One of Itani’s relatives said to LBC that “his family are urging the media to do their best to obtain his release as soon as possible.”