The suspected ringleader of the group that kidnapped seven Estonians on March 23 has been arrested by authorities, according to Lebanese media.

It is not yet clear whether the detained suspect is Wael Abbasi, who Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi, the head of the Lebanese Internal Security Forces, said was the kidnappers' leader, the Lebanese news agency naharnet.com reported. The father and brother of Abbasi were allegedly taken into custody earlier today.

Previously, media reports asserted that the leader of the kidnappers was Darwish Khanjar.

Rifi told the publication al-Liwaa that the assailants consisted of six or seven members and that four have been arrested. Yet high-ranking security officials told the newspaper An Nahar that more than seven people, including four involved in the kidnapping, have been seized.

A white van used to capture the Estonians was found by the authorities near the town of Majdal Anjar on March 30. A Mercedes used by the kidnappers was also found, according to the Voice of Lebanon.

"We won't allow Lebanon's security to be targeted," Rifi said to al-Liwaa, threatening the kidnappers that the army could send a "painful" message.

Authorities said they believed they were "hours" away from resolving the crisis, the Daily Star reported.



Earlier on March 31, an organization called the "Movement of Rebirth and Reform" sent an electronic mail to the website lebanonfiles.com, taking responsibility for the kidnapping of seven Estonian tourists.

Allegedly, the Estonians are in good health and the demands for their release will be given soon.

To support its claims, the organization included three photos of the Estonians' national ID cards. The pictures of August Tillo, Kalev Käosaar and Madis Paluoja can be identified on the website.

The publisher of the Lebanese website, Rabh Haber, told uudised.err.ee that he has never heard of such a group, adding that it was probably just created or a coverup name. Still, the statement needs to be taken seriously, he said, since the email sent to the website contained the photos of the Estonians' ID cards.

Ott Tammik