The rebels are demanding that hundreds of imprisoned women activists be freed in exchange for the nuns, they said.

A spokesman for the rebel brigade al-Habib al-Moustafa said that so far government officials had refused the demand to release prisoners.

The negotiations were confirmed by a Syrian opposition activist who requested anonymity, as he was discussing talks conducted by other parties.

He said the rebels were also demanding the release of imprisoned Saudi Arabian nationals captured while fighting for the opposition.

The activist said negotiations began immediately after the nuns were seized from their convent of Mar Takla in the village of Maloula, north of Damascus on Dec. 6 when rebels overran the area. At least another three women were also seized from the convent's orphanage. They were taken to the nearby rebel-held town of Yabroud, activists say.

The seized women appeared on a video days after their capture saying they were alive and well.

Sources

AP/Huffington Post
Christian Today
Al Bawaba
Image: Daily Star/Al-Jazeera/Al Bawaba