The Iranian embassy in Damascus on Wednesday appealed for the immediate release of five Iranian engineers who were kidnapped a day earlier in restive Homs province and called on the Syrian government to take a "serious and urgent measure to identify the kidnappers and release the Iranian experts."
In a statement issued Wednesday, the embassy said that five Iranian engineers were among the eight experts who were reportedly kidnapped in restive Homs province a day ago.
The embassy said that coordination with the Syrian authorities is underway to find the whereabouts of the abducted engineers.
The Syrian Ministry of Electricity announced Tuesday evening in a statement that eight experts from various nationalities, with whom it has previously signed contracts to take benefit of their expertise at the Gander electrical station in the suburb of the central city of Homs, have been kidnapped by an armed terrorist group.
Iranian firms are currently carrying out several other projects in Syria, such as constructing cement factory, hydroelectric power plants, glass factory, and silos.
As long-time allies in the region, Iran has provided Syria with economic assistance in the past years to counter the international isolation and economic sanctions on the country. The two countries have recently signed a series of agreements on economic cooperation to help Syria withstand new pressures.
Xinhua
