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Middle East and North Africa

Syrian authorities release over 60 convicted women

The group for monitoring of human rights in Syria did not produce any information who released the women from the Syrian prisons and where they are staying

Photo EPA/MAURICIO MORALES

Photo EPA/MAURICIO MORALES

LONDON, October 24 (Itar-Tass) - The Syrian authorities have released the group of 61 convicted women in a deal to swap the hostages. The authorities of Syria, Qatar, Turkey, Lebanon and the Palestine National Authority participated in the deal, the Britain-based group for monitoring of human rights in Syria that supports the Syrian opposition said here on Thursday.

Nine Shiite pilgrims, who were captured by the opposition militants in Syria, as well as two pilots of the Turkish airline, who were captured in Lebanon by the relatives of the hostages, which the opposition in Syria is keeping, were released from captivity in the deal for the swap of prisoners in the previous week.

It was reported that the agreement for the swap of prisoners was concluded with a mediating role of Qatar and the Palestine National Authority.

The group for monitoring of human rights in Syria did not produce any information who released the women from the Syrian prisons and where they are staying. However, the group reported that the Syrian opposition demanded the convicted women should be released.

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