Four Italian journalists abducted in north Syria by ‘rebel group’

Four Italian journalists have been kidnapped in the north of Syria, on the border with Turkey, the Italian Foreign Ministry confirmed late Friday.

The war-torn country is being described as the world's most dangerous place for journalists.

The foreign ministry confirmed the report "indicating that it has followed the developments from the very beginning," according to the ANSA news agency. It also called for "maximum discretion," stressing that "the physical safety of the hostages remains the absolute priority."

The Italian authorities said they had been monitoring the case from the start but called for "maximum discretion", insisting that "the physical safety of the hostages remains the absolute priority", the ANSA report said.

The La Repubblica website said the abducted were three freelance journalists and one reporter working for the Italian public broadcaster RAI.

The newspaper said the journalists were kidnapped "by a rebel group" while out filming.

The website of the La Stampa daily added that the four were taken overnight Thursday to Friday.

Their families have already been informed, the foreign ministry said.

In February, an Italian citizen and two Russians kidnapped on December 12 in the west of Syria were freed as part of an exchange for militants.