Syrian authorities have informed Egypt that three Egyptian citizens who were reported missing in Lebanon are currently in Syria, Assistant Foreign Minister Mohamed Abdel Hakam said today. Abdel Hakam added that Syrian authorities notified the Egyptian embassy in Damascus of the arrest of three Egyptians on charges of illegal entry into Syrian territories. The Egyptian embassy in Damascus has contacted the three arrested Egyptians and is currently working toward their release and return to Egypt, added Hakam. Egyptian media had reported that the three Egyptians were abducted from Lebanon this week and taken to Syria. Al-Ahram paper said the families of the three abducted Egyptians received phone calls from an anonymous number calling from Syria to demand a ransom for the release of the three. According to Al-Ahram they were not released despite the payment of the requested ransom. The paper also reported that the Egyptian embassy in Beirut was working closely with Lebanese security authorities to investigate the kidnappings.
