August 11, 2012 - 13:30 AMT
Syrian TV workers kidnapped in Damascus – report

A pro-government Syrian TV station said four of its employees have been kidnapped while on assignment in a suburb of the capital Damascus, Belfast Telegraph said.

Imad Sarah, who is general manager of Al-Ikhbariya station, said the four were seized in al-Tal suburb north of Damascus by an armed group as they were covering events in the area.

The area has witnessed shelling and clashes between government troops and rebels fighting to topple President Bashar Assad's regime.

Al-Ikhbariya and other pro-government Syrian TV stations have often come under attack during the course of the 17-month uprising in the country.

A bomb blast struck the headquarters of Syrian state TV in Damascus this week, wounding several employees.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Turkey for talks with Turkish officials as well as Syrian opposition figures.