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Turkish pilots 'freed' in Lebanon in Syria hostage deal Turkish pilots 'freed' in Lebanon in Syria hostage deal
(35 minutes later)
Two Turkish pilots who were being held hostage in Lebanon have been released, Turkish state media report.Two Turkish pilots who were being held hostage in Lebanon have been released, Turkish state media report.
Murat Akpinar and Murat Agca have been handed over to Lebanese officials and are expected to fly home soon.Murat Akpinar and Murat Agca have been handed over to Lebanese officials and are expected to fly home soon.
The kidnapping of the men was linked to the capture of nine Lebanese pilgrims in Syria in May 2012. The kidnapping of the men was linked to the capture of nine Lebanese Shia pilgrims in Syria in May 2012.
Under a negotiated hostage deal, the pilgrims were released on Friday and are expected to arrive in Lebanon within hours.Under a negotiated hostage deal, the pilgrims were released on Friday and are expected to arrive in Lebanon within hours.
The nine were part of a group of 11 who were seized while making their way back to Lebanon in May 2012 after a tour of holy sites in Iran. The nine were part of a group of 11 seized while making their way back to Lebanon after a tour of holy sites in Iran. Two of them escaped.
In August a group called Zuwwar al-Imam Rida said it had kidnapped the two pilots and that they would be freed in exchange for the pilgrims. The group were reportedly being held in northern Syria by fighters from a Sunni-based rebel group opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
There are also expectations that a number of female prisoners being held by the Syrian government might be released as part of an elaborate three-way deal. Then in August, the pilots, who worked for Turkish Airlines, were seized from a bus close to Beirut's international airport.
Turkey backs Syria's Sunni rebels, and is seen to have influence over them, while much of Lebanon's Shia community supports President Bashar al-Assad. A group called Zuwwar al-Imam Rida said it had carried out the kidnapping, and that the men would be freed in exchange for the pilgrims.
It demanded that Turkey used its influence with Syrian rebels to make the swap possible.
'Story is over'
Turkey has consistently backed Syria's Sunni rebels, while much of Lebanon's Shia community supports President Bashar al-Assad.
The pilots' abduction sparked protests in Lebanon, and growing concerns that the Syrian civil war is spilling over the border.
Earlier this week they appeared in a video broadcast on Lebanese television saying they were both well and wanted to go home.
Then on Friday evening, Lebanon's Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said the pilgrims had been released and had crossed into southern Turkey.
"The story is over," Mr Charbel told the Reuters news agency. "In the next 24 hours, they will be with us [in Lebanon]."
The Qatari foreign minister told the al-Jazeera television network that the pilgrims' release had come about due to Qatari mediation.
There were also expectations that a number of female prisoners being held by the Syrian government might be released as part of an elaborate three-way deal.
Syrian and Lebanese politics have been deeply intertwined throughout the history of the two states.
Syria had a large military presence in Lebanon for 29 years. It finally withdrew its soldiers in 2005, but has maintained a strong influence.