Iraqi captors free five Syrians

Kidnappers in Iraq have released five Syrian truck drivers on Thursday after holding them for three days.

Kidnappers in Iraq released five Syrian truck drivers on Thursday after holding them for three days, but without their trucks and merchandise, Lebanese security services said.

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The truckers, who transported generators for a Lebanese company, were abducted Monday some 130 kilometers (80 miles) from the Iraqi capital.

Four Lebanese truckers and a Syrian were snatched last Friday on the same road, of whom two were released on Monday and Tuesday.

One of them, Nasser al-Jundi, told reporters after his return home to Lebanon that the captives had been well treated.

They were asked about their merchandise, also generators sent to Iraq by another Lebanese firm.

Electricity is tightly rationed in Iraq, making generators essential for many operations.

Since the start of a wave of hostage-takings in Iraq in April, about 15 Lebanese have been abducted, most of whom have been released.

One however, Hussein Olayyan, who worked for a telecom company, was beheaded in June.