Tehran and Syrian rebels confirms 11 Iranians freed

Feb 7, 2012, 11:40 GMT

Tehran/Beirut - Tehran and the opposition Syrian Free Army confirmed Tuesday that 11 Iranian nationals, kidnapped by the rebels in Syria earlier this month, had been released and handed over to the Turkish authorities.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said that, with the cooperation of third countries, 11 Iranian pilgrims had been released. He gave no further details.

The Free Syrian Army - a group of deserters who have joined the Syrian opposition - said the 11 Iranian nationals were handed over to the Turkish authorities, according to activists based at the Syrian-Turkish border.

The activists said the Free Syrian Army released the detainees in return for an Iranian promise to help urge Damascus to 'release all women and children detained' in Syrian jails since the uprising erupted in Syria in mid-March.

On February 1, unidentified gunmen kidnapped the 11 Iranian pilgrims in Syria, days after an armed group kidnapped other Iranian pilgrims on a bus heading to Damascus. Gunmen also seized seven Iranians in the restive city of Homs in January.

According to the Syrian authorities, a total of 22 Iranians had been seized since the uprising erupted.

Iranian pilgrims frequently visit Shiite Muslim shrines in Syria.

The Syrian opposition has accused Iran of supporting Damascus' crackdown on the popular uprising, which has escalated into an armed conflict.

Mehmanparast condemned the kidnappings and said such acts would not bring legitimacy to the involved groups.

Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi dismissed reports that the kidnapped Iranians had any affiliation with the Iranian revolutionary guards accused of aiding the Syrian regime.

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