Kidnapped Italians freed in Syria
Source: Agencies |
July 29, 2012, Sunday
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SYRIAN forces freed two Italians workers from a group of rebels who kidnapped them earlier this month, Syrian state media said yesterday.
Italy's foreign minister described the news of the release as a positive development.
"Our forces have managed to release two Italians who were kidnapped by terrorists in the Damascus countryside," state television said yesterday.
The Italians, employees of a subcontractor for energy technology group Ansaldo Energia, were detained by armed men on July 17 as they drove to the airport to fly out of the country, according to Italian media.
An earlier report in Italian daily Secolo XIX said that the men were travelling in a convoy of 20 staff who worked for Ansaldo when captured.
The two men had become separated from the group when it was stopped and ended up in the hands of rebels, the newspaper said, citing a colleague of the men who managed to leave Damascus. The others made it home safely.
Meanwhile, Syrian government tanks backed by attack helicopters swept into Aleppo yesterday as the regime launched an assault to regain control of the country's largest city a week after rebels seized several neighborhoods.
The high-stakes battle for Aleppo, a commercial hub and the country's largest city, has raised fears among activists and the international community that a new massacre could be looming.
Syria's longtime ally, Russia, added to the chorus of alarm yesterday, saying a "tragedy" was looming in Aleppo. But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said it was unrealistic to expect the Syrian army to stand by while rebels were trying to take over major cities.
Yesterday, activists said soldiers were targeting rebel-controlled neighborhoods to crush opposition forces for good.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said fierce fighting has erupted inside those neighborhoods. It cited sources on the ground.
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov warned that international support for the Syrian rebels would lead to "more blood."
Italy's foreign minister described the news of the release as a positive development.
"Our forces have managed to release two Italians who were kidnapped by terrorists in the Damascus countryside," state television said yesterday.
The Italians, employees of a subcontractor for energy technology group Ansaldo Energia, were detained by armed men on July 17 as they drove to the airport to fly out of the country, according to Italian media.
An earlier report in Italian daily Secolo XIX said that the men were travelling in a convoy of 20 staff who worked for Ansaldo when captured.
The two men had become separated from the group when it was stopped and ended up in the hands of rebels, the newspaper said, citing a colleague of the men who managed to leave Damascus. The others made it home safely.
Meanwhile, Syrian government tanks backed by attack helicopters swept into Aleppo yesterday as the regime launched an assault to regain control of the country's largest city a week after rebels seized several neighborhoods.
The high-stakes battle for Aleppo, a commercial hub and the country's largest city, has raised fears among activists and the international community that a new massacre could be looming.
Syria's longtime ally, Russia, added to the chorus of alarm yesterday, saying a "tragedy" was looming in Aleppo. But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said it was unrealistic to expect the Syrian army to stand by while rebels were trying to take over major cities.
Yesterday, activists said soldiers were targeting rebel-controlled neighborhoods to crush opposition forces for good.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said fierce fighting has erupted inside those neighborhoods. It cited sources on the ground.
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov warned that international support for the Syrian rebels would lead to "more blood."
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