Azerbaijan, Baku, Aug. 8 / Trend /
Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has called on the United Nations to act immediately to obtain the release of the Iranian nationals abducted in Syria and Libya, press TV reported
"The Government of Iran calls for the immediate release of its abducted nationals and is of the view that using the hostages as human shields violates... international law and (the) human rights of these innocent civilians," Salehi said in a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, during a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Ankara on Tuesday, the Iranian foreign minister asked for Turkey's assistance in efforts to obtain the release of the Iranian nationals abducted in Syria.
Davutoglu said he feels like the abducted Iranians are citizens of his own country and pledged to do his utmost to obtain their release. He also noted that Iran and Turkey have close ties and common interests.
On the unrest in Syria, Salehi said that the situation is at a critical juncture, adding that Turkey should help the efforts to find a political solution in order to prevent a catastrophe.
A busload of 48 Iranians was seized by the Syrian rebels on Saturday. Tehran says they were pilgrims visiting a Shi'ite Muslim shrine, denying suggestions that they were military personnel helping Assad put down the rebellion.