07 January 2005
NABATIEH: Families of the two Lebanese hostages in Iraq, Ghazi and Hassan Haidar, urged the government to work harder and faster Thursday to reveal the fate of their sons, who were kidnapped in Hay al-Mansour some 10 days ago. In a meeting in Nabatieh, both families and residents of Qaaq-aaiet al-Jisr called on Lebanese authorities to secure the release the two hostages, who were working in Iraq after they had failed to find jobs in Lebanon. The Haidar families thanked Sheikh Maher Hammoud for his efforts in trying to release the two hostages, adding that they had no link with the American troops in Iraq or with the provisional Iraqi government. "Ghazi and Hassan are not affiliated with any side," they said. An Islamic militant group known as the Musaab bin Omeir group claimed responsibility for the kidnappings. Ghazi, 41, was abducted upon arrival in Hay al-Mansour after transporting a cargo shipment of electric appliances to Iraq. Ghazi's cousin, Hassan, 55, lived in Hay al-Mansour where he worked in a trade company. "Both families are extremely worried, and they are in daily contact with Lebanon's consul in Baghdad, but unfortunately, he does not have anything new to add,"said Ali Haidar. "We ask kidnappers to have mercy upon our sons, and we urge the Lebanese Foreign Ministry to find a solution," he added. Besides Ghazi and Hassan, three other Lebanese remain abducted in Iraq since early November of last year. The fate of Badri Abu Hamza, Sadiq Sadiq and a third Lebanese, whose identity remains undisclosed, remain unknown.
