Hezbollah gunmen kidnapped three Lebanese policemen in south Beirut on Friday, stripped them of their weapons, interrogated them and then set them free, local Naharnet news website reported.

The Naharnet quoted a ranking police officer as saying that the police patrol was trying to settle a quarrel between a number of people in Hadi Nasrallah Avenue of south Beirut, which is a Hezbollah stronghold.

"All of a sudden, armed Hezbollah elements besieged the patrol, stripped the officers of their weapons and took them to a Hezbollah office in the area," said the officer.

"The police officers were interrogated by Hezbollah members who set them free later after contacts between Lebanese officials and the party's leadership," he added.

The officer said Hezbollah gunmen accused the three of " entering Hezbollah's secured square" in south Beirut which is off limits for Lebanese troops and security forces.

The so-called secured square in south Beirut houses Hezbollah's main facilities, said the report.

Source: Xinhua