Estonian tourists kidnapped in Lebanon

TALLINN - The Estonian Foreign Ministry has confirmed that the seven tourist abducted at gunpoint while cycling through Lebanon are Estonian citizens and has sent a diplomat to the country. 

The kidnappers have still not come forward with demands and no group has yet claimed responsibility for the act.

"Currently we do not know the identities of the kidnappers nor the motives for the kidnapping... Our goal is to find a quick and positive resolution to this case so that the kidnapped individuals will be freed as soon as possible," Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said at a news conference.

Paet said that the foreign ministry knew the identities of the victims and had been in touch with their families, but did not release any personal information to the public.

Paet said they are working in close cooperation with Lebanese police, who have launched an extensive search-and-rescue mission to find the missing tourists.

"We were in constant contact with the Lebanese authorities late last night and early this morning. The kidnapping is being handled the same way everywhere and police activity is taking place to resolve the case, free the victims and catch the perpetrators," he said.

The seven cyclists were kidnapped by masked gunmen on March 23 near Zahle, Lebanon's third largest city, shortly after crossing over the border from Syria.