Syria frees 2130 prisoners for 48 Iranians

                            

ISTANBUL, KOMPAS.com - Thousands of prisoners, mostly Syrians exchanged 40s Iranians in Damascus, Wednesday (9/1), said a Turkish charity.

The Syrian government freed 2130 civilians, 76 of them women, in exchange for the release of 48 Iranian nationals detained Syrian rebels, said Huseyin Oruç, vice president of the Foundation for Humanitarian Aid in Turkey.

Iran been supporting the Syrian government in a war that lasted nearly two years between the rebels against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

semi-official news agency of Iran, Fars on Wednesday, reported that the Iranian pilgrims who were released were "terrorists abducted in Syria in August" last year.

Al-Assad and Iranian rebels routinely refer Syria as militants or terrorists are chock foreigners.

exchange came after Al-Assad's speech on Sunday as he vowed to continue to destroy the rebels.

"It's a big win for us," said Louai al-Miqdad, politics and media coordinator Army liberation of Syria. "This is a big victory for the revolution. And a great victory for the people of Syria. "

He added," It shows the whole world that Bashar al-Assad understands only the language of power. Today, we deliver them with our hands. "

Huseyin Oruç told CNN in a telephone interview that four Turkish citizens and a Palestinian were freed Syrian government as part of the deal.

A foundation team in Damascus to handle the exchange, which took place at a police station, he said.

On Wednesday night, Iranians freed in Damascus and the Syrians who were released have returned to their homes, he said.

According to the agency, it is the result of negotiations terseut exchange for three months.

In between Syrian and Turkish citizens who were released, there are four "activists newlyweds," the woman wearing a wedding dress when arrested while protesting the violence in their country, Miqdad said.

Some of the Syrian and Turkish prisoner had been detained in the capital's main prison, and the other at run prisons intelligence, Miqdad said.

He said the Iranians are members of the group were released last August was kidnapped by rebels in Damascus. The Iranian government has denied rebel claims that the Iranians were freed was a member of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. Tehran said they were Shia pilgrims who were in Syria to visit the holy places in Damascus when abducted "foreign-backed militants."