Sally Faulkner says she is trying to keep her head up as the ordeal around the botched 60 Minutes kidnapping saga moves into the next phase.
On Thursday night Lebanese authorities brought charges of kidnapping against Ms Faulkner and child recovery agent Adam Whittington as well as lesser charges against his accomplices and the 60 Minutes crew involved in the snatching of Ms Faulkner's children Lahela, 5, and Noah, 3, from a busy Beirut street in April.
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Faulkner, Whittington charged with kidnapping
Brisbane mother Sally Faulkner and child recovery specialist Andrew Whittington have been charged with kidnapping in Lebanon. Vision courtesy of ABC News 24.
Ms Faulkner said she was coping with the latest blow the same way she had dealt with every challenge since the children's father Ali Elamine took them back to Lebanon.
"I am staying positive and keeping my head up by surrounding myself with good people," she said.
"Really, my family and friends are what has kept me going through everything that has happened."
With her legal team now working to ensure she wasn't returned to a Lebanese prison, Ms Faulkner didn't want to discuss the case against her, but she said the latest episode in the saga was just another in a roller coaster of emotions.
"It has been an up-and-down crazy emotional roller coaster," she said.
"I honestly wouldn't wish this upon anyone."
She hasn't been able to speak to her children since she left Lebanon after being released from prison along with the 60 Minutes crew, when Nine's lawyers struck a deal after the group had been in prison for more than two weeks.
"(Ali) refuses contact, he refuses any kind of contact," Ms Faulkner said.
"Even though the court order stated specifically he was to allow contact I haven't been able to speak to them."
Despite recognising the enormity of the situation she faces, Ms Faulkner said she didn't want to be painted as a victim.
"I'm not a victim in any of this and Ali isn't the victim in any of this," she said.
"Our children are the ones who have lucked out to not be able to have their mother show them the love they need, the love they need from both of their parents."
Mr Whittington's lawyer, Joe Karam, told Fairfax Media the case would now go before three judges in the Indictment Chamber where it was hoped the charges would be downgraded.
"We have a lot of precedent," he said.
The case will continue next week.