Journalists disappearing from Syria

LONDON, July 1 (UPI) —

Most of the attacks on foreign news correspondents in Syria have taken place in the north of the country, a safety monitoring organization said.

The International News Safety Institute published a map detailing where and when foreign journalists were abducted, kidnapped or otherwise detained while reporting in Syria.

INSI said two French journalists working for an unnamed news organization disappeared while on their way to Aleppo in June.

"Most kidnappings, abductions and detentions in the past 12 months took place in the northern regions of Syria," the organization said Monday. "Some took place in the west of the country."

The safety institute, which has headquarters in London, said it has been able to document at least 3 recent cases of foreign journalists arrested by the government and at least six cases where journalists were abducted by "criminal" groups.

Two members of the foreign media were abducted in June and held for ransom on allegation they were working for the CIA. INSI said they were later rescued by Syrian rebels.

INSI said all of the reported kidnappings, abductions and detentions took place in parts of Syrian where rebel forces are active. The majority have taken place in and around Aleppo.

The Syrian Observatory of Human Rights said more than 65 people were killed in weekend fighting in Aleppo, Idlib, Damascus, Deraa and Homs.