even members of the Iranian Red Crescent अर्धचन्द्राकारwere released by their captors in Libya yesterday after 65 days in captivity. The Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said that the hostages were handed over to the Iranian Embassy in Tripoli. They are expected to reach Teheran today. The Red Crescent members were kidnapped in Benghazi by unknown armed men in July. The group was returning to their hotel after signing a document with Libyan officials.

However, there has been no word yet on the fate of 48 Iranians held hostage by the Syrian rebels. The rebels deadline of 48 hours for the Syrian Government to release the detained Syrian prisoners otherwise face execution of the Iranian hostages comes to an end today. Iran has requested Turkey and Qatar to help secure the release of 48 Iranians kidnapped in August by the one of the rebel Syrian Brigades associated with the rebel Free Syrian Army. Iran Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi spoke to his Turkish and Qatari counterparts on phone who assured him of all possible help.

The rebels claim that the hostages are the members of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, IRGC on a reconnaissance mission to help the Syrian regime. Iran says the 48 hostages are Shiite pilgrims and an Afghani interpreter who visited Syria for religious purposes and were kidnapped just outside Damascus as they visited the shrine of Hazrat Zainab, the daughter of Imam Ali.