Ransom demands made for Estonian hostages

TALLINN -- An organization claiming responsibility for the kidnapping of seven Estonian tourists in Lebanon late last month has said that the hostages are in good condition and has issued ransom demands for their release.

The organization, a previously unknown terror group calling itself "The Movement of Rebirth and Reform", sent a message to lebanonfiles.com demanding money for their release.

The group did not include an exact sum or any contact information. On March 31, the group claimed responsibility for the kidnapping in a similar message which included proof that they had the tourists.

"According to information received by the Foreign Ministry, a statement from the group that calls itself the Renaissance and Reform Movement reached the Lebanese news portal Lebabon Files at 6:30 this morning. The message states that the abducted Estonians are in their hands and they are fine, and that they want money. There were no further details, contact information, or exact sums named," the Estonian Foreign Ministry said in an April 6 press release.

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.

Estonian authorities are working in close contact with Lebanese police, who have so far detained four men in connection with the kidnapping.