5 Iranian pilgrims kidnapped in Syria return home

The abducted pilgrims arrived in Tehran on Saturday, two days after their release through Turkey. On Friday, the Iranian Embassy in Ankara told Press TV’s correspondent that the abductees had been released at the Syria-Turkey border and were in the southern Turkish city of Hatay. The men were then transferred to Istanbul and handed over to the Iranian consulate in the city to arrange their return to Iran. The five had been seized in late January by gunmen who attacked a bus carrying Iranian pilgrims en route to Damascus. On Saturday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast expressed Tehran’s happiness over the return of the abducted Iranians. He also thanked Turkish officials for the efforts they made for the release of the men and hailed Ankara’s cooperation on the issue. Iranian officials say efforts are underway to secure the release of the remaining six pilgrims. Among the Iranian nationals still held by gunmen in Syria are six technicians and engineers kidnapped in the restive city of Homs back in December. They were on their way to work at a nearby power plant project when they were seized by gunmen.