Saturday, 19 October 2013

Hostages freed in Lebanon swap deal

Source BBC News@ tienganhvui.com


Murat Akpinar (r) and his co-pilot Murat Agca (l), who were kidnapped in LebanonMurat Agca (L) and Murat Akpinar (R) were snatched from a bus


Two Turkish pilots who were being held hostage in Lebanon have been released, Turkish state media report.


Murat Akpinar and Murat Agca have been handed over to Lebanese officials and are expected to fly home soon.


The kidnapping of the men was linked to the capture of nine Lebanese pilgrims in Syria in May 2012.


Under a negotiated hostage deal, the pilgrims were released on Friday and are expected to arrive in Lebanon within hours.


The nine were part of a group of 11 who were seized while making their way back to Lebanon in May 2012 after a tour of holy sites in Iran.


In August a group called Zuwwar al-Imam Rida said it had kidnapped the two pilots and that they would be freed in exchange for the pilgrims.


There are also expectations that a number of female prisoners being held by the Syrian government might be released as part of an elaborate three-way deal.


Turkey backs Syria's Sunni rebels, and is seen to have influence over them, while much of Lebanon's Shia community supports President Bashar al-Assad.





Đăng ký: Tieng Anh Vui

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