Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 10 / Trend S.Isayev, T. Jafarov/
Seven Iranian engineers and one Iranian expert have been freed in Syria, Fars reported with reference to an informed source at Iran's Energy Ministry.
Iranian electrical engineers were first abducted by gunmen in the restive Syrian city of Homs on December 21, 2011 en route to a 450-MW power plant they were involved in building. Two more Iranians, who were trying to obtain information about the missing men, were also kidnapped; their location is still unknown.
On January 26, a group of unidentified gunmen attacked a bus carrying Iranian pilgrims on the road connecting Damascus to the northwestern city of Aleppo.
The assailants kidnapped 11 men and drove off to an unknown destination, leaving female passengers behind. Their fate still remains unknown.
Eleven more Iranian pilgrims were kidnapped on February 1 on a road from the Syrian city of Hama to Damascus.
Syria has been the scene of unrest since mid-March, 2011, with demonstrations being held both against and in support of President Bashar al-Assad's government.