The seven Estonian nationals who were kidnapped in eastern Lebanon in March were released and transferred to the French embassy in Beirut on Thursday, according to dpa. Lebanon's Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said: "All the seven men appeared in good health and will travel to Estonia later Thursday." "A convoy of almost six cars arrived at the embassy in east Beriut amid very high security," a security source told the German Press Agency dpa, speaking on condition of anonymity. The group of cyclists, all in their 30s, was released earlier Thursday in the industrial city of Zahleh in eastern Lebanon and handed over to a French delegation, nearly three months after they were taken captive in the area. "We are relieved to hear the Estonians were released," Lebanon's Foreign Minister Adnand Masnrour was quoted by Lebanese media as saying The Estonian Foreign Ministry in a statement said the release of the seven "was a result of cooperation with Lebanon, other partners." The seven were kidnapped in Zahleh on March 23, shortly after entering the country via the border with Syria. Several suspects were later arrested in connection with the case, but there appeared to be no clear leads as to who was behind the kidnapping.
