BEIRUT (The Daily Star): A Lebanese military judge Tuesday charged a former negotiator in Lebanon's hostage crisis with belonging to the Nusra Front, seeking the death penalty against Arsal's Sheikh Mustafa Hujeiri.
The charges, filed by Military Investigative Judge Fadi Sawwan, against Hujeiri include forming a terrorist ring with the aim of undermining the authority of the state and giving speeches calling for jihad against the Lebanese Army.
Hujeiri was also accused of turning Arsal’s infirmaries into places for harboring terrorists.
Sawwan referred the case to the military court to conduct a trial in absentia.
Hujeiri had been negotiating with Islamist militants holding at least 27 Lebanese soldiers and policemen hostage.
ISIS and the Nusra Front have been holding the servicemen captive since early August when the jihadists briefly took over the border town of Arsal.
Hujeiri was credited with facilitating a visit by one of the captive's families early in the kidnapping crisis.
Last month, however, Hujeiri announced he was suspending his efforts after the Committee of Muslim Scholars said it was halting similar efforts for better negotiation conditions and to open doors for foreign mediation.
One of the captors’ key demands is reportedly to swap the hostages with Islamist inmates at Roumieh Prison.
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