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'Kidnapped' Lebanese found dead | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Lebanese police have found the bodies of a Sunni man and a boy in hills south-east of Beirut, three days after they went missing, feared kidnapped. | |
Ziyad Ghandour, 12, was the son of a member of the pro-government Progressive Socialist Party. Ziyad Qabalan, 25, also belonged to the PSP. | Ziyad Ghandour, 12, was the son of a member of the pro-government Progressive Socialist Party. Ziyad Qabalan, 25, also belonged to the PSP. |
Opposition parties immediately denied involvement in their disappearance. | |
Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said it was a "terrorist act" aimed at stirring sectarian tensions in Lebanon. | Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said it was a "terrorist act" aimed at stirring sectarian tensions in Lebanon. |
Tensions have been running high since December, when the pro-Syrian opposition, led by the Shia group Hezbollah, began a campaign to oust Mr Siniora's pro-Western government. | Tensions have been running high since December, when the pro-Syrian opposition, led by the Shia group Hezbollah, began a campaign to oust Mr Siniora's pro-Western government. |
In January, clashes broke out between the rival camps in Beirut and nine people were killed. | In January, clashes broke out between the rival camps in Beirut and nine people were killed. |
Appeal for calm | |
The two disappeared on Monday after leaving their homes in Wata Musaitbi district of West Beirut. | |
Let us allow the judiciary and investigation to run their course so that we don't fall into the trap of political rumours PSP leader Walid Jumblatt | |
Their car was then found in a Shia neighbourhood of the capital. | |
The Lebanese security forces launched a nationwide manhunt in response. | |
Local media immediately speculated the two had been kidnapped by a Shia clan close to the opposition which had vowed to avenge the death of a relative shot dead during January's riots. | |
The Shamas clan and the two main Shia groups, Hezbollah and Amal, denied any involvement and urged their release. | |
Hopes of finding the two were dashed on Thursday, however, when police said they received a phone call telling them the two bodies had been left in a field near the coastal village of Jadra. | |
A spokesman said it was unclear how they had been killed, but initial reports suggested they were dead at least 48 hours ago. | |
Progressive Socialist Party leader, Druze chief Walid Jumblatt, joined politicians from both sides in appealing for calm. | |
"Let us allow the judiciary and investigation to run their course so that we don't fall into the trap of political rumours," he told Future TV. | |
"Let us remove politics from this incident." |
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