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Turkish pilots 'freed' in Lebanon in Syria hostage deal Freed Lebanese Shia hostages return from Syria
(about 2 hours later)
Two Turkish pilots who were being held hostage in Lebanon have been released, Turkish state media report. Nine Lebanese Shia pilgrims who were kidnapped by rebels in Syria last year have arrived back in Beirut after being released.
Murat Akpinar and Murat Agca have been handed over to Lebanese officials and are expected to fly home soon. The group were freed in a deal brokered by Qatar. Two Turkish pilots who were being held hostage in Lebanon were also released as part of the agreement.
The kidnapping of the men was linked to the capture of nine Lebanese Shia pilgrims in Syria in May 2012. Turkish Airlines pilots Murat Akpinar and Murat Agca were seized in Beirut in August in a retaliatory abduction.
Under a negotiated hostage deal, the pilgrims were released on Friday and are expected to arrive in Lebanon within hours. They are expected to be flown home on Saturday evening.
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. They have already been handed over to Lebanese security officials.
The group were reportedly being held in northern Syria by fighters from a Sunni-based rebel group opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. A third part of the complex hostage negotiations involved the release of a number of female prisoners being held by the Syrian government.
Then in August, the pilots, who worked for Turkish Airlines, were seized from a bus close to Beirut's international airport. It is not yet clear whether that has taken place.
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. The BBC's Dima Hamdan, at Beirut airport, says she understands the Syrian government has agreed in principle to their release.
Kidnapping claim
There were jubilant scenes at Beirut airport as the Lebanese group arrived after a year-and-a-half in captivity.
They were greeted by friends and family, as well as politicians and religious leaders.
Speaking to local media, some of the men thanked the Qatari negotiators, Turkey and the Assad government for helping to free them.
The nine were among 11 people seized while making their way back to Lebanon after a tour of holy sites in Iran. Two of them escaped.
They were reportedly being held in northern Syria by fighters from a Sunni-based rebel group opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Then in August, the pilots were seized from a bus close to Beirut's international airport. 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.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.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.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.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. Then on Saturday, Turkish state media announced that they were free and returning home.
"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.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.Syria had a large military presence in Lebanon for 29 years. It finally withdrew its soldiers in 2005, but has maintained a strong influence.