Lebanese Police Chief Awarded Arab 'Man of the Year'
Head of the Lebanese Internal Security Forces Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi, who was in charge of arresting the nine men allegedly involved in kidnapping of Estonian cyclists, has received the Pan-Arabian "Man of the Year 2011" title.
The award was given on December 13 at a ceremony hosted by the by the Arab Administrative Development Organization and the Tatweej Academy.
Rifi also received a gold medal for outstanding leadership in the Arab World. In addition to arresting the individuals linked to kidnapping of the Estonian nationals, he was credited for apprehending several networks of individuals, charged with collaborating with Israel.
The seven Estonians were abducted by armed men in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley on March 23 and were freed on July 14 at the same location.
Ingrid Teesalu