Iran says US responsible for hostages in Syria
Washington should ‘use its influence’ to free the passengers of the bus captured near Damascus, states Foreign Ministry
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TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s Foreign Ministry says it’s holding the US responsible for the fate of Iranians kidnapped in Syria.
The state IRNA news agency said the ministry summoned the Swiss envoy in Tehran late Monday to stress that Iran expects Washington to use its influence to secure the Iranians’ release. The Swiss look after US interests in Iran since Tehran and Washington have no diplomatic relations.
Syrian rebels snatched 48 Iranians off a bus just outside Damascus Saturday. Iran says those abducted were pilgrims visiting a shrine but their captors claimed in a video broadcast Sunday that they were on a “reconnaissance mission.”
Syria’s close ally Iran has criticized the US, Turkey and some Gulf states for supporting the Syrian rebels. It has also asked Turkey and Qatar to help return Iranian captives.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
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