Syrians Demand Ransom for Kidnapped Foreign Workers - Report

According to Kommersant, the hostages were abducted by one of the Syrian opposition groups. File photo by RIA Novosti/AFP

The kidnappers of two Russian workers and an Italian who were abducted this week have demanded a ransom of 50 million Syrian pounds (USD 700 000; EUR 530 000), according to a Russian news report.

Russian citizens Viktor Gorelov and Abdessattar Hassoun, and Italian Mario Belluomo, all employees of Syrian engineering company Hmisho Steel SA, were taken hostage on Monday evening in a Christian-populated area between the towns of Homs and Tartus.

The kidnappers telephoned the company to demand the ransom, Moscow newspaper Kommersant said online, quoting an unnamed source.

According to Kommersant, the hostages were abducted by one of the Syrian opposition groups.

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