Syrian Optimistic on French Hostages
Syria’s defense minister said Wednesday he is certain that French hostages in Lebanon will be released, and he added that if his government could find them, it would use force if necessary to free them.
Mustafa Talas said Syria has negotiated with the group holding the French prisoners, but he did not specify which organization he meant. Two extremist groups hold four French hostages each, and no one has claimed responsibility for seizing a ninth Frenchman missing in Lebanon.
In an interview with the radio station Europe-1, Talas said, “If we knew where the French hostages were, we would have freed them, even by force.”
Islamic Jihad (Islamic Holy War), believed to be made up of Shia Muslims loyal to the fundamentalist Iranian regime, has held four French hostages for more than a year and also has claimed to hold five Americans. A group called Revolutionary Justice claimed responsibility for the abduction of a four-man French television crew March 8.
Talas said that release of the French hostages has been delayed by “American aggression against Libya and continuing U.S. threats against Syria.”
His reference was to the U.S. air raid April 15 on Tripoli and Benghazi, and statements by U.S. officials about a possible link between Syria and terrorist actions in Europe.
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