The Syrian government has released an American citizen who was captured and detained after entering the war-wracked country about four years ago, ABC News quoted the US State Department as saying on Friday.

Spokesman Mark Toner declined to identify the American due to privacy considerations, but US officials said that he is Kevin Patrick Dawes, a 33-year-old freelance photographer from San Diego who was captured in 2012.

Toner described the US citizen as a "detainee," not a "hostage," and said he was released in the past few days. He declined to provide information on why he was initially detained.

The Russian foreign ministry said Dawes was flown to Moscow on April 1 and turned over to the US Embassy there.

Toner thanked Russia and Czech officials, who represent US diplomatic interests in Syria, for helping the United States gain access to Dawes and seek his release. 

Source : MENA