Syria rebels say will free Lebanese hostages in new state

Syrian rebels holding 11 Lebanese Shi'ite pilgrims hostage said they would release the men when their country had established a new "civil state".

Some of the hostages in Syria's north Aleppo province said in a video obtained by Al Jazeera television that they were in healthy and were treated like guests.

"The guests will be released by the Syrian civil state when their case is reviewed by a new democratic parliament," said a written statement in the video shown on Al Jazeera, referring to rebel aims to topple President Bashar al-Assad.

The statement did show there was room for negotiation: "But given the current conditions it may be possible to negotiate their release with neighbouring countries."

REUTERS