Two Italian hostages abducted in Syria in July last year have been freed, the Italian government sources Thursday confirmed.
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 July 31 last year, Xinhua reported.
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 Qaeda-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 Thursday.
"We are so happy about this news...we cannot wait to hug our daughter again," Ramelli's mother told Silvana Alberio, the mayor of Gavirate, the town near Milan where the girl's family lives.
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Media rumors said the Italian centre-left government of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has paid as much as $12 million, which triggered angry reactions among members of opposition right wing party Northern League.
"If the government has really paid $12 million, it would be a shame," ANSA news agency quoted Northern League head Matteo Salvini as saying.