Reuters journalists freed in Syria

Television producer Ayat Basma and cameraman Ezzat Baltaji returned to their home base in Lebanon and said they were well.

"Reuters is concerned that its journalists were detained and held incommunicado for so long. We are delighted by their release and look forward to welcoming Ayat and Ezzat back," editor-in-chief Stephen Adler said. "We would like to thank everyone who helped us resolve the issue."

Basma and Baltaji, both Beirut-based Lebanese nationals, travelled to neighbouring Syria on Thursday to cover mass protests against president Bashar al-Assad’s 11-year rule.

A Syrian official said the journalists were detained and questioned because they did not have a permit to work in Syria and had filmed “in an area where filming is not permitted”. ■