[08 Aug 2012] Kidnapping Iranian pilgrims crime against humanity - English Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has called on the United Nations to act immediately to secure the release of the Iranian nationals abducted in Syria and Libya. "The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran calls for the immediate release of its abducted nationals and is of the view that using the hostages as human shields violates... international law and (the) human rights of these innocent civilians," Salehi said in a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday. "I would like to seek the cooperation and the good offices of Your Excellency for securing the release of these hostages," he added. A UN spokesman confirmed that the letter had been received but did not offer an immediate response. On August 4, 48 Iranians, who were traveling on a bus from Damascus International Airport to the shrine of Hazrat Zainab (AS) on the outskirts of the Syrian capital, were abducted by insurgents. Three of the abductees have reportedly been killed. Insurgents from the self-proclaimed Free Syrian Army have threatened to kill the other abductees. Press TV has conducted an interview with Mohsen Saleh, professor at the Lebanese University, to further discuss the issue.