Iranian FM condemns abduction of Iranian engineers, technicians in Syria

TEHRAN, Dec. 24 (MNA) - Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, late on Thursday, condemned the abduction of a number of Iranian engineers and technicians in Syria. The Iranian embassy in Damascus released a statement on Wednesday confirming news reports saying that five Iranian engineers and technicians had been kidnapped in Syria and called on the kidnappers to immediately release the Iranian nationals. According to the statement, unidentified armed gunmen abducted five Iranian engineers and technicians, who were on the way to their work, on Wednesday at 6:30 local time in the restive Syrian city of Homs. Salehi said that the Foreign Ministry and other relevant institutions have initiated extensive efforts to obtain the release of the abductees and requested the Syrian government, the Arab League, and human rights organizations to make efforts in this regard.