Three Spanish reporters kidnapped in Syria freed
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This combination of handout pictures taken in unspecified locations was created on May 7, 2016, and shows Spanish freelance journalists Angel Sastre, Antonio Pampliega, and Jose Manuel Lopez. (AFP)
Three Spanish reporters who had been kidnapped in Syria around 10 months ago have been freed, the Spanish government says.
According to Press TV quoting a statement released by Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's office on Saturday, Antonio Pampliega, Jose Manuel Lopez, and Angel Sastre, are alive and in good health.
Acting Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria has spoken to the trio over the phone. They had gone missing near the northwestern Syrian city Aleppo on July 12, the statement further read.
The Spanish Press Federation (FAPE) has confirmed their release noting that all three “are on their way” back to Spain.
Elsa Gonzalez, the FAPE director, noted that their return was cause for "joy and emotion," adding that "work by reporters like these elevates journalism."
Spanish media outlets, including El Pais, reported that they were held by the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front terror group.
According to Reporters Without Borders, Syria has become one of most dangerous countries in the world for journalists since the fighting broke out.
Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that the Syria peace process have made more progress in the past few weeks than during the last five years.
ME
