Miqati Postpones Visit to Turkey to Follow Up Abduction of Pilgrims

Prime Minister Najib Miqati postponed his scheduled visit to Turkey on Saturday to follow up the abduction of the 11 pilgrims in Syria.

“I have decided to postpone my visit as the contacts and the efforts to release the abducted Lebanese are still ongoing,” Miqati said in a statement issued by his press office.

He pointed out that the visit aimed at thanking the Turkish government for its efforts for the release of the pilgrims.

However, Miqati noted that after discussing the matter with President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri and Turkish officials, he decided to postpone traveling to Turkey Saturday afternoon.

On Friday, the premier received a call from his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu who assured him that the 11 abducted men were "safe and on their way to Beirut."

A private plane owned by former Prime Minister Saad Hariri was preparing to fly the pilgrim’s home.

However, the hopes of the families anxiously waiting for the pilgrims to return were dashed after the release was delayed for unclear reasons as conflicting reports had emerged about the exact timing of their arrival in Beirut and about whether or not they were handed over to Turkish authorities.

Advisor to the Turkish president, Irshad Hormuzlu, denied reports that Turkey had informed Lebanese authorities that the abducted Lebanese have entered Turkey, reported Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3).

The 11 pilgrims were kidnapped in Aleppo on Tuesday.

There are no confirmed reports on the side that abducted them.