Syrian Group Demands Release Of Prisoners In Exchange For Bodies Of Russian Air Crew

A Syrian group said on Thursday it had the bodies of five people shot down in a Russian helicopter and demanded the release of prisoners in exchange for the corpses.

The Russian military helicopter was downed in Syria's rebel-held Idlib province on Monday, killing all five people on board in the biggest officially acknowledged loss of life for Russian forces since they started operations in Syria.

The demand was made in a statement seen by Reuters, signed off by a group calling itself the General Foundation for Prisoners' Affairs.