Tit-for-tat hostage home

Aydin Tufan Tekin reunited with his mother and father - the Turkish businessmen had not seen his parents since he was kidnapped in Beirut last month.

He was taken along with a group of Syrian men by Lebanon's Meqdad clan after a clan member's relative was abducted in Damascus by anti-regime rebels.

Tekin was handed over to Lebanese security forces on Tuesday and was reunited with his family in Turkey on Wednesday.

He described his time in captivity as "tough", saying he was counting the days, minutes and seconds. (paraphrased over SB)/ that's fine upsound it first -- LM!)

The Shi'ite Meqdad clan said it had kidnapped the Syrians and Tekin as a means of putting pressure on both the Syrian rebels and Turkey, which has supported the uprising in Syria.

The kidnapping of foreigners has become a growing concern in Lebanon, as fears grow over a possible spill over of sectarian violence from the Syrian revolt.