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Spanish journalists kidnapped in Syria | Spanish journalists kidnapped in Syria |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Two Spanish journalists have been kidnapped in Syria by a radical Islamist group linked to al-Qaeda. | Two Spanish journalists have been kidnapped in Syria by a radical Islamist group linked to al-Qaeda. |
El Mundo reporter Javier Espinosa and freelance photographer Ricardo Garcia Vilanova were seized by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis). | |
The newspaper said they were taken at a checkpoint in northern Raqqa province near the Turkish border. | The newspaper said they were taken at a checkpoint in northern Raqqa province near the Turkish border. |
The BBC's Paul Wood in Beirut says Isis assumes that all foreign journalists and aid workers are spies. | The BBC's Paul Wood in Beirut says Isis assumes that all foreign journalists and aid workers are spies. |
The high risk of kidnapping has made rebel-held areas of Syria a black hole where few foreign journalists - or aid workers - will venture, he adds. | The high risk of kidnapping has made rebel-held areas of Syria a black hole where few foreign journalists - or aid workers - will venture, he adds. |
El Mundo said the two men had been trying to leave Syria at the end of a two-week reporting mission when they were taken on 16 September. | El Mundo said the two men had been trying to leave Syria at the end of a two-week reporting mission when they were taken on 16 September. |
Four members of the Free Syrian Army - the main Western-backed rebel group - who were protecting them were also captured. The four were later released. | Four members of the Free Syrian Army - the main Western-backed rebel group - who were protecting them were also captured. The four were later released. |
The Spanish daily said news of the kidnapping was kept quiet while it held indirect communications with the captors, who have still not made any demands. | The Spanish daily said news of the kidnapping was kept quiet while it held indirect communications with the captors, who have still not made any demands. |
Hours after the newspaper announced the kidnapping, Mr Espinosa's wife spoke at an emotional news conference in Beirut, urging the journalists' captors to free them. | Hours after the newspaper announced the kidnapping, Mr Espinosa's wife spoke at an emotional news conference in Beirut, urging the journalists' captors to free them. |
Monica Prieto said the pair had "travelled a dozen times to Syria to document war crimes, risking their lives, and becoming brothers with the Syrians in their fear, misery and humanitarian crisis". | Monica Prieto said the pair had "travelled a dozen times to Syria to document war crimes, risking their lives, and becoming brothers with the Syrians in their fear, misery and humanitarian crisis". |
"Javier and Ricardo are not your enemy. Please, honour the revolution they protected, and set them free." | "Javier and Ricardo are not your enemy. Please, honour the revolution they protected, and set them free." |
'Scores held' | 'Scores held' |
Mr Espinosa has been a Middle East correspondent for El Mundo since 2002 and is based in Beirut. | Mr Espinosa has been a Middle East correspondent for El Mundo since 2002 and is based in Beirut. |
Mr Vilanova has worked for various news outlets including the New York Times, the Washington Post and the AFP news agency. | Mr Vilanova has worked for various news outlets including the New York Times, the Washington Post and the AFP news agency. |
Our correspondent says the two are believed to be in an Isis jail in the northern city of Raqqa with a number of other foreigners - and dozens, perhaps hundreds, of Syrians. | Our correspondent says the two are believed to be in an Isis jail in the northern city of Raqqa with a number of other foreigners - and dozens, perhaps hundreds, of Syrians. |
Many kidnappings have not been made public but it is thought there are between 20 and 30 aid workers and journalists currently in captivity, our correspondent adds. | Many kidnappings have not been made public but it is thought there are between 20 and 30 aid workers and journalists currently in captivity, our correspondent adds. |
The group Reporters Without Borders calls Syria the most dangerous country for journalists. | The group Reporters Without Borders calls Syria the most dangerous country for journalists. |
At least 25 have been killed, along with as many as 80 citizen journalists and bloggers, and many others have gone missing since the conflict began in March 2011. | At least 25 have been killed, along with as many as 80 citizen journalists and bloggers, and many others have gone missing since the conflict began in March 2011. |
More than 100,000 people have died since rebels took up arms against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. | More than 100,000 people have died since rebels took up arms against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. |
The conflict has displaced five million inside the country and created another two million refugees. | The conflict has displaced five million inside the country and created another two million refugees. |