48 Iranians kidnapped in Syria
Source: Agencies |
August 5, 2012, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
FORTY-EIGHT Iranians were kidnapped while on pilgrimage in the Syrian capital Damascus yesterday, the Iranian state news agency IRNA reported. They were seized by "armed groups" on the Damascus airport road as they returned from a religious shrine, IRNA quoted an official in Iran's embassy in Damascus as saying.
The embassy knows the whereabouts of the pilgrims and is pursuing "relevant channels" to free them, IRNA quoted the official as saying.
Syria's state television channel reported that "armed terrorist groups" had kidnapped the pilgrims.
Iranian pilgrims have previously been the target of kidnappings in Syria, where President Bashar al-Assad is battling a revolt. Assad comes from the minority Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shi'ite Islam. Iran is the Middle East's Shi'ite power.
The embassy knows the whereabouts of the pilgrims and is pursuing "relevant channels" to free them, IRNA quoted the official as saying.
Syria's state television channel reported that "armed terrorist groups" had kidnapped the pilgrims.
Iranian pilgrims have previously been the target of kidnappings in Syria, where President Bashar al-Assad is battling a revolt. Assad comes from the minority Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shi'ite Islam. Iran is the Middle East's Shi'ite power.
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