Syria to exchange civil prisoners for rebel-held Iranians - reportJanuary 9, 2013 - 12:17 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Syrian government will set free 2,130 civilian prisoners on Wednesday in exchange for the release of 48 Iranians held by Syrian rebels, Reuters reported citing Turkey's state-run Anatolian news agency. Citing the head of a Turkish humanitarian agency who was in Damascus to help coordinate the deal, Anatolian said Turkish citizens were among those to be released on Wednesday, January 9 morning. The deal was brokered by Turkey and Qatar. The Syrian rebel al-Baraa brigade seized the Iranians in early August and had initially threatened to kill them. The rebels say the captives are members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards sent to help Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces crush their revolt. Tehran, one of Assad's closest allies, has said they were pilgrims visiting Shi'ite Muslim shrines. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | International cybercrime ringleaders arrested in Armenia, Ukraine Europol, Europe's crime agency, has arrested four ringleaders of several cybercrime networks that used botnets. Armenia skips CSTO Defense Ministers meeting A meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization countries began in Almaty. Armenian, Iranian foreigh policy chief talk over the phone The Foreign Minister of Armenia once again expressed condolences to his counterpart on the death of the President of Iran. Armenia, U.S. customs authorities to boost assistance with new deal The government has approved an agreement with the U.S. government on mutual assistance between the customs authorities. |