Syria Frees Leading Human Rights Activist

Syrian authorities released leading human rights activist Abdul Karim Rihawi on Monday after detaining him 11 days ago, his lawyer said.

"The authorities released Abdul Karim Rihawi without bringing any charges against him," lawyer Khalil Maatouq said.

Rihawi, head of the Syrian League for the Defense of Human Rights, was arrested in a Damascus cafe on August 11 during a crackdown by the regime on anti-government protests.

Through his network of activists in Syria, Rihawi, 43, has been a vital source of information for the foreign media whose movements are restricted in the country.

Rihawi, who led the rights group since 2004, has been very active since the start of the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad in mid-March. He has never been arrested before.

France and Italy had demanded his immediate release.