‘Beirut has spared no effort to determine Imam Sadr’s fate’

TEHRAN, Oct. 29 (MNA) – The Lebanese government has made every effort to determine Imam Musa al-Sadr’s fate, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati told a number of family members of al-Sadr during a recent meeting in Beirut. Imam al-Sadr’s nephew, Mehdi Firouzan, said that during his recent meeting with Mikati, he discussed his uncle’s fate and the latest developments in Lydia. Firouzan also commented on the meetings between other family members of al-Sadr and high-ranking Lebanese officials and expressed hope that the meetings would help the Imam be reunited with his family. He went on to say that some delegations tasked with pursuing the al-Sadr case have been sent to Libya to enter into negotiations with the Libyan officials on this matter. Lebanon’s Higher Islamic Shiite Council, the Shura Council, and some other Lebanese governmental institutions have taken positive steps to determine al-Sadr’s fate through holding discussions with Libyan officials, he said. Iran has also taken appropriate measures to pursue the case, the results of which will be announced in the near future, he added. “The most important thing is to get new information about the place where he is being held captive in order to find him,” Firouzan said. In August 1978, al-Sadr departed for Libya with two companions to meet officials of Muammar Gaddafi’s government. They were never heard from again, and many believe they met with foul play at the hands of Gaddafi. In August 2008, Lebanon issued an arrest warrant for Gaddafi and 11 other Libyan officials, charging them with kidnapping al-Sadr. Gaddafi was also indicted for “inciting the abduction” of the senior cleric. The former Libyan government had denied responsibility, claiming that al-Sadr and his companions left Libya for Italy in 1978.