Ordeal of abducted Saudis in Beirut ends 

(MENAFN - Arab News) Two Saudi citizens, kidnapped and tortured for eight days in an apartment on the outskirts of Beirut, have been freed by Lebanese security forces.

They are now in an American hospital in Beirut before being transported to the Kingdom, Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awwad Asiri announced yesterday.

"An Arab gang had kidnapped Tawfiq Hassan Al-Shaqayiq and Abdullah Ali Al-Shaqayiq after luring them to an apartment in a Beirut suburb," he said.

Sources close to the embassy said the gang members were Iraqis.

The ambassador said the gang physically tortured the two hostages and demanded a large ransom from their families for their release.

The ambassador urged all Saudis in Lebanon to stay "only in well-known hotels and stay away from private apartments," and called on visitors to register with the embassy upon arrival in Beirut. He advised Saudi tourists to avoid border areas.

Asiri said security men showed great deftness and skills in pursuing the kidnappers. The embassy had been coordinating with Lebanese security forces in the operation.

Two of the kidnappers were arrested and the search is continuing for other gang members.

The embassy cautioned Saudis from blindly trusting those who offer them accommodation.

It called on the citizens to contact the embassy if they have any complaints or problems.