A deal to release captive servicemen held hostage by the al-Qaida-affiliate al-Nusra Front entered the last stages as a Qatari-appointed negotiator put the final touches on the agreement last week.

A source said in comments published in al-Mustaqbal newspaper on Wednesday that the release of the captive is awaiting a decision on the date and venue of a prisoners swap deal with the Nusra Front.

The concerned source told the daily that the unnamed Qatari mediator visited Lebanon twice last week to wrap up the deal.

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