The Syrian abductors took three men, Russians V. Gorelov and Abdessattar Khassun and Italian Mario Belluomo, Monday as they were travelling along the Tartus-Homs highway, RIA Novosti reported. The three men work for the Hmisho steel company in Homs.

A statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed the steel company received a telephone call demanding payment for the release of the men.

The Russian newspaper Kommersant reported the abductors are from one of Syria's opposition groups.