Richard Engel, the chief foreign correspondent for the US network NBC and members of his team, have been freed unharmed from their Syrian captors after a firefight. They had been held for five days. The group disappeared shortly after crossing into north west Syria from Turkey last Thursday (13 December). NBC had no contact with the kidnappers and asked for a news blackout about the incident, which was observed by mainstream news outlets. There was no request for ransom during the time Engel and his crew were missing. After being abducted, they were put into the back of a truck and blindfolded before being transported to an unknown location, believed to be near the small town of Ma’arrat Misrin. Throughout their captivity, they were blindfolded and bound, but otherwise not physically harmed, said the network. Early yesterday, the prisoners were being moved to a new location when their captors ran into a checkpoint manned by members of the Ahrar al-Sham brigade, a Syrian rebel group. There was a confrontation and a firefight ensued. Read more http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/12/...ngel-and-crew-freed-after-firefight-in-syria/
