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BEIRUT (AFP) -The Lebanese Shiite Muslim Hezbollah group has denied a media report that Israel must free 19 Lebanese prisoners it holds before even receiving information about the three Israeli soldiers captured by its members.
"Information saying that we demanded the release of 19 Lebanese detained in Israel in return for information requested from us about the health of the Israeli soldiers or that we asked for the freedom of an undetermined number of Arab prisoners in Israel in return for these soldiers does not reflect Hezbollah's position," said a Hezbollah spokesperson. Hezbollah had not yet made any decision on what its demands may be, adding that "only Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah is entitled to make declarations or deal publicly with this file," added the spokesperson, who did not wish to be identified. A statement confirmed that Nasrallah was the only person in Hezbollah to speak about the issue "to ensure the success of the [prisoners] exchange in a peaceful manner." "The Hezbollah leadership considers that, from now on, the party will not be linked to any analysis or declaration alleged to sources or informed circles in Hezbollah, or anything like that," the statement said. Earlier on Tuesday Hezbollah had refused to comment on declarations made by an Israeli army spokesperson that the three Israeli soldiers abducted over the weekend were wounded during their capture. "Traces of blood discovered at the scene were those of the three soldiers who were hurt during their capture," added the statement. Asked about the health of the three soldiers on Saturday, Nasrallah said, "any information [on the kidnapped soldiers] is a negotiation tool." |
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