ROME - The Italian government says an Italian journalist and a Belgian national who were kidnapped in Syria in April have been freed.
The government announced late Sunday night that Domenico Quirico, a correspondent for the Turin newspaper, would arrive soon on a flight to Rome.
Premier Enrico Letta's office added in a statement that Belgian Pierre Piccinin was also "free" and was flying to Italy with Quirico.
The premier's office says "hope had never faded" for Quirico's safe return but gave no details on how he became free. Quirico had entered Syria from Lebanon on April 6 and disappeared three days later while traveling to the city of Homs in war-torn Syria.
It was unclear who had held the men.