The Islamic State group has released 19 Christians who were among the more than 220 people the militants took captive in north-eastern Syria last week.

Bashir Saedi, a senior official in the Assyrian Democratic Organisation, says the 16 men and three womenwere freed today were now at a church in the city of Hassakeh. He said they are all around 50 years of age or older.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights activist group also reported that 19 Christians had been freed.

It was not immediately clear why the Islamic State group released them.

The fate of the remaining Christian captives is unclear.

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