UN worker released by Syrian rebels after nine months

A legal adviser of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), who was kidnapped nine months ago outside Syrian capital Damascus, was released Thursday, Xinhua reported citing state-run SANA news agency.

Canadian Carl Campeau was kidnapped last February by rebels in the Khan al-Sheih area outside Damascus.

"We can say that the tragedy of Campeau's kidnapping that had continued over nine months on the hands of the terrorist groups ended today," Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad said.

The Syrian government has made all possible efforts to secure the release of Campeau since he was kidnapped, Mekdad said, adding that the incident has made us more convinced of the role of the UN that must be evenhanded and against terrorism.

For his part, Campeau said it was a "nightmare", adding that he escaped when his captors forgot to lock the door.

Campeau was quoted as saying that the kidnappers had practised great mental pressure on him, and told him that the UN was their enemy just as the Syrian government.