Syrian authorities have released 10 women jailed for plotting against the government, the first of 126 women expected to be freed in the final stages of a three-way prisoner and hostage swap.

Syrian authorities have released 10 women jailed for plotting against the government, the first of 126 women expected to be freed in the final stages of a three-way prisoner and hostage swap, activists said.

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 negotiated by Qatar.

"They [the 10 women] were released overnight. We do not know if more will be released today or later, or if that is it. We are waiting," said a Syrian human rights activist.

The opposition UK-based Syrian Observatory said Damascus had released dozens of prisoners last week, who also may have been part of the deal.

Syrian rebels kidnapped the Lebanese men in May 2012 who had been on their way home from visiting holy shrines in Iran.

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.

Little information has emerged about the women being released or when they were originally detained. But they are believed to be those whose release Syrian armed groups had originally demanded as the price for freeing the Lebanese hostages.