NNA - The Army Command - Orientation Directorate issued Friday the following statement:


"After gathering intelligence concerning a group non-Lebanese people planning to kidnap a person in the area of Ras Baalbek for ransom, a patrol from the Directorate raided this afternoon the whereabouts of that group and arrested three of its members who have already been involved in a previous kidnapping, and an investigation has been initiated with the detainees.


Meanwhile in Brital an army unit raided the houses of numerous culprits wanted for kidnapping crimes. Fires were shot in the air immediately after the arrival of the unit with no casualties reported. The wanted men managed to escape outside the town with the army hot on their trail."


======================R.Z.