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| Italian and Belgian freed after being kidnapped in Syria | Italian and Belgian freed after being kidnapped in Syria |
| (10 days later) | |
| Italian journalist Domenico Quirico and Belgian teacher and writer Pierre Piccinin da Prata have been freed after being kidnapped in Syria in early April, officials said on Sunday. | Italian journalist Domenico Quirico and Belgian teacher and writer Pierre Piccinin da Prata have been freed after being kidnapped in Syria in early April, officials said on Sunday. |
| Quirico, a veteran reporter for La Stampa daily with long experience reporting on conflicts in Africa and the Middle East, entered Syria on 6 April but disappeared four days later. | Quirico, a veteran reporter for La Stampa daily with long experience reporting on conflicts in Africa and the Middle East, entered Syria on 6 April but disappeared four days later. |
| He spoke briefly by phone to his wife in June confirming he had been kidnapped but said he was in good health. | He spoke briefly by phone to his wife in June confirming he had been kidnapped but said he was in good health. |
| "We never lost hope and all the efforts made over the past months have been crowned with success," Italian prime minister Enrico Letta said in a statement confirming both men had been released and were on their way to Italy. | "We never lost hope and all the efforts made over the past months have been crowned with success," Italian prime minister Enrico Letta said in a statement confirming both men had been released and were on their way to Italy. |
| The news was confirmed in a tweet by Belgian prime minister Elio Di Rupo who said he shared the emotion and relief of the men's families. | The news was confirmed in a tweet by Belgian prime minister Elio Di Rupo who said he shared the emotion and relief of the men's families. |
| There was no immediate word on who was responsible for kidnapping the two men, who were reported to have been travelling together when they were taken. | There was no immediate word on who was responsible for kidnapping the two men, who were reported to have been travelling together when they were taken. |
| Four other Italian journalists were kidnapped in Syria in April but were released after little more than a week. | Four other Italian journalists were kidnapped in Syria in April but were released after little more than a week. |
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