Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 9 / Trend, A. Tagiyeva /
Four citizens of Turkey were amongst the prisoners released by the Syrian government on Wednesday, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is on an official visit to Niger said, as reported by TRT Haber TV channel.
Erdogan said Turkey welcomes the release of civilian prisoners from Syrian prisons.
On Wednesday, Syrian authorities released 2,100 civilian prisoners detained during demonstrations in the country.
Syrian authorities agreed to release prisoners in exchange for 48 Iranian citizens detained earlier by Syrian opposition forces.
The exchange of prisoners was mediated by Qatar and Turkey.
Anti-government protests have continued in Syria for more than a year and a half. According to the UN Human Rights Commissioner, the total number of victims of the conflict in Syria exceeds 60,000. More than 230,000 have become refugees and there are around three million people in need of humanitarian assistance. The Syrian authorities say they oppose the well-armed militants.