Two Swedes abducted in Syria freed

Two Swedes who had been abducted in Syria were released on Friday, the Swedish Foreign Ministry said on Saturday, news agency TT reported.

It was not known for how long or where the Swedes had been held, TT reported, adding that one of the men belonged to a Pentecostal church.

In a written statement to TT, Sweden’s Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom extended her gratitude to countries involved in working for the release of the Swedes.

"A special thanks to Palestine and to President (Mahmoud) Abbas personally, who was involved in a material way, as well as to Jordan authorities," TT quoted her as saying.

A ministry spokesman refused to comment further.