Syria to exchange civil prisoners for rebel-held Iranians - report

Syria to exchange civil prisoners for rebel-held Iranians - report
January 9, 2013 - 12:17 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Syrian government will set free 2,130 civilian prisoners on Wednesday in exchange for the release of 48 Iranians held by Syrian rebels, Reuters reported citing Turkey's state-run Anatolian news agency.

Citing the head of a Turkish humanitarian agency who was in Damascus to help coordinate the deal, Anatolian said Turkish citizens were among those to be released on Wednesday, January 9 morning.

The deal was brokered by Turkey and Qatar.

The Syrian rebel al-Baraa brigade seized the Iranians in early August and had initially threatened to kill them.

The rebels say the captives are members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards sent to help Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces crush their revolt.

Tehran, one of Assad's closest allies, has said they were pilgrims visiting Shi'ite Muslim shrines.

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