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| Iranians held by Syria rebels 'released' | Iranians held by Syria rebels 'released' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Forty-eight Iranians held hostage by rebels in Syria since August have been freed, Iranian state TV reports. | |
| The Iranians were released in exchange for 2,130 prisoners held by the Syrian authorities, a Turkish charity said. | |
| Rebel fighters claimed the hostages had been carrying out a mission on behalf of Syrian government forces. | |
| Iran said a number were retired members of the armed forces, but insisted they were pilgrims who had visited a Shia shrine in the south-east of Damascus. | Iran said a number were retired members of the armed forces, but insisted they were pilgrims who had visited a Shia shrine in the south-east of Damascus. |
| Officials at the Iranian Pilgrimage and Travel Organisation said the group included university students and some public servants. | Officials at the Iranian Pilgrimage and Travel Organisation said the group included university students and some public servants. |
| Shortly after they were seized, the Free Syrian Army's al-Bara Brigade said it had evidence showing that the Iranians belonged to the Revolutionary Guards and had come to Syria to "serve the regime". | Shortly after they were seized, the Free Syrian Army's al-Bara Brigade said it had evidence showing that the Iranians belonged to the Revolutionary Guards and had come to Syria to "serve the regime". |
| The Syrian government has not yet confirmed that they have been freed. | |
| But earlier on Wednesday, the Turkish Islamic aid organisation, Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH), said 2,130 civilian prisoners would be released by the Syrian authorities in return for the Iranians. | |
| "Most of the prisoners to be swapped are Syrian citizens in exchange for Iranians, and there are a few Turks as well," IHH board member Osman Atalay told Reuters news agency. | |
| The head of the agency, Bulent Yildirim, was in Damascus to help co-ordinate the prisoner swap, which was already under way, he added. | |
| The Turkish state news agency, Anadolu, said the deal was brokered by Turkey and Qatar, which have backed the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, in which the UN says at least 60,000 people have died. |