Lebanese abductee Suleiman al-Ahmed was released by Syrian authorities on Tuesday and returned to the northern town of Wadi Khaled, where town dignitaries and officials celebrated his release. At the courtyard of al-Hisheh municipality, heavy celebratory gunfire erupted as al-Ahmed arrived at his hometown where he was welcomed by a mass rally.

From a platform carrying President Michel Suleiman’s photograph, al-Ahmed said that “entire Wadi Khaled is wanted by the Syrian regime and I thank the brothers from the Alawite and Shiite sects who contributed to freeing me.” [Link]