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Two Italian female hostages in Syria freed: Italian gov't

Xinhua, January 16, 2015 Adjust font size:

Sources from the Italian government on Thursday confirmed media reports that two Italian hostages kept in Syria since last July have been freed.

"They are free and will come back home soon," the sources said in a few words posted on the government's official account on a social network.

Greta Ramelli and Vanessa Marzullo, two girls from northern Italy aged 20 and 21, were working in humanitarian aid projects when they were abducted near the northern city of Aleppo on July 31.

Earlier this month the two girls appeared in a dramatic video wearing long dark tunics, in which they asked the Italian government to bring them back home as they were "in extreme danger and could be killed."

The al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front claimed responsibility for the abduction, which Italian intelligence source described as "extremely delicate."

"Greta and Vanessa free. The result of Italy's intensive teamwork," the Italian foreign ministry said on a social network on Thursday commenting on the liberation. The pair was expected to arrive in Rome late on Thursday, according to ANSA news agency.

"We are so happy about this news ... we cannot wait to hug our daughter again," Ramelli's mother reportedly told Silvana Alberio, the mayor of Gavirate, the town near Milan where the girl's family lives.

Media rumors said the Italian center-left government of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has paid as much as 12 million U.S. dollars, which triggered angry reactions among members of opposition right wing party Northern League.

"If the government has really paid 12 million U.S. dollars, it would be a shame," the Northern League head Matteo Salvini was quoted by ANSA as saying. Enditem