Lebanon deports 157 Sudanese prisoners

BEIRUT, Lebanon, Dec 30, 2003 (AP) — Lebanon deported 157 Sudanese prisoners Tuesday after the inmates had completed their prison terms, security officials said.

The prisoners, who did not have money to fly home, were put on a plane to the Sudanese capital of Khartoum that was chartered by Tele Lumiere, a privately owned Christian religious television station, the officials said, speaking on customary condition of anonymity.

The TV station said in a faxed statement that it had sponsored the prisoners’ trip home to spread Christmas spirit and year-end goodwill.

“This initiative … is part of the television station’s mission to promote peace, love and dialogue among people, countries and religions and to sow joy in the heart of every man, especially the prisoner,” the statement said.

A delegation from the TV station accompanied the ex-prisoners, who had spent between six and 18 months in jail on charges of illegally entering the country and various degrees of theft, the officials said.

Tele Lumiere is the only Christian television station in Lebanon. It is supervised by the Assembly of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon.