A supporter of Lebanon's Hezbollah covers her head with the party's flag as she listens to a televised address by their leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah (Photo: Reuters – Ali Hashisho)
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Friday called for armed Syrian rebels to release 11 Lebanese pilgrims that were kidnapped last month.
The men were taken while traveling back from a religious pilgrimage to Iran and on Thursday a group called the Revolutionary Council in Aleppo claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.
Addressing the kidnappers – who released a video broadcast via Al Jazeera claiming that the abduction was not motivated by sectarianism – Nasrallah said the innocent should not be caught up in any political disagreements.
"You said yesterday that you have no problem with a religious sect so you must prove this – these people are pilgrims and they must return to their families," he said.
"If you have a problem with me there are many ways to solve this. If you want to solve it with war lets solve it with war, if you want to solve it with peace lets solve it with peace."
"Solve your problem with us but to take the innocent people hostages for this problem is a big injustice that you must put a stop to."
The kidnappers had demanded Nasrallah apologize for a previous speech in which he thanked Syrian President Bashar Assad for his efforts in trying to secure their release.
The abduction drew swift condemnation from Syrian authorities, as well as the Syrian opposition and Free Syrian Army, who initially could not identify the captors.
The act by the splinter group further highlights the chaotic disunity amongst armed Syrian groups, most of whom do not respond to a central command.
Nasrallah proposes national conference
Nasrallah urged all sides to work together to strengthen the Lebanese state and proposed a non-sectarian national conference to discuss ideas.
"Why don't we hold a national conference, let's elect a national conference not based along sectarian lines," he said.
In an apparent reference to the Future Movement, the Hezbollah leader expressed hope that no political side would boycott the upcoming national dialogue, stressing the need for unity.
"I want to make a proposal to the national dialogue – lets hope nobody boycotts it."
Nasrallah added that there would never have been a need for a resistance movement if the state was strong enough to defend its people.
"Lets make a real dialogue, lets address the reasons, lets speak about how you can make a real strong state in Lebanon," he said.
"If we want Lebanon to be unified in this country we must focus on civil peace and civil security. If we want Lebanon to be capable of dealing with crises we need the state and we need the state's institutions," he added.
The Future Movement earlier in the week imposed conditions before a national dialogue could take place, demanding a cabinet reshuffle.
Nasrallah sought to defuse tension in the country following a spate of incidents in Lebanon over the past month that threatens the country's fragile stability.
"Don't we as Lebanese need to sit together – before the bombing begins?"
"The future is a real national state, whereby you have the rule of law...This is the hope, the goal," he said, warning of future consequences if Lebanon's woes are not resolved.
"If we don't do this we will pass on our problems to our grandchildren."
Uprooted Palestinian 
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