Syria rebels free 48 Iranians for 2,130 of their supporters
10 Jan 2013 6:55 AM IST
Syrian rebels on Wednesday freed 48 Iranians they had been holding for months in a swap for 2,130 prisoners detained by the Syrian regime, according to a Turkish charity, a rebel spokesman and Iranian state television.
‘This is the result of months of civil diplomacy carried out by our organisation,’ a spokesman for the Turkish charity the Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH), Serkan Nergis, told AFP in Turkey.
The regime’s prisoners exchanged for the Iranians were of several nationalities, including Turks, he said.
A spokesman for the rebel Free Syrian Army, Ahmed al-Khatib, confirmed the deal, telling AFP in Beirut by telephone it was worked out through Turkish and Qatari mediation with Iran lobbying ally Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Iranian television made no mention of the swap deal, saying only that ‘the 48 Iranian pilgrims were released.’
The Iranians counted several Revolutionary Guards members, according to the rebel group which snatched them in Damascus in early August and threatened them with execution.
The rebels released a video on August 5 showing the captives and Iranian military identification cards taken from them.
‘This is the result of months of civil diplomacy carried out by our organisation,’ a spokesman for the Turkish charity the Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH), Serkan Nergis, told AFP in Turkey.
The regime’s prisoners exchanged for the Iranians were of several nationalities, including Turks, he said.
A spokesman for the rebel Free Syrian Army, Ahmed al-Khatib, confirmed the deal, telling AFP in Beirut by telephone it was worked out through Turkish and Qatari mediation with Iran lobbying ally Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Iranian television made no mention of the swap deal, saying only that ‘the 48 Iranian pilgrims were released.’
The Iranians counted several Revolutionary Guards members, according to the rebel group which snatched them in Damascus in early August and threatened them with execution.
The rebels released a video on August 5 showing the captives and Iranian military identification cards taken from them.
Next Story
