Syrian authorities started implementing a weekend hostage exchange, as it released 14 women detainees.

Syrian authorities started implementing a weekend hostage exchange, as it released 14 women detainees.

"Fourteen of the women whose names were on the list" were freed late Tuesday, activist Sema Nassar told AFP. "For their own safety, they will have to leave the country."

"Another 128 women whose names were on the list have yet to be set free," she said.

But there has been no official comment in Damascus on the women detainees.

The release of scores of female detainees held in government jails formed part of the deal brokered by Turkey, Qatar and Lebanon.

The women's release was the main demand of kidnappers in northern Syria who had held nine Lebanese men hostage for 17 months. Those hostages and two Turkish pilots abducted in Lebanon were freed last week under a deal brockered by Qatar.

Nine Lebanese pilgrims, who were abducted in May 2012 by Syria militants, were released last Saturday in exchange for two Turkish pilots held in Lebanon since August.

The Turkish pilots were abducted to put pressure on a country they believe holds sway with the opposition. Turkey hosts many opposition groups and has generally kept its border open to the insurgents.