Iranians freed by Syrian rebels arrive in Damascus  ALBERT AJI
SUZAN FRASER The Associated Press Published:  DAMASCUS, Syria
(AP) -- Syrian rebels on Wednesday freed 48 Iranians held
captive since August in exchange for the release of more than
2,000 detainees in the first major prisoner swap of the
country's civil war, officials said.    The group of 48 men
arrived at the Sheraton hotel in several vans escorted by Syrian
security forces. Iran's ambassador in Damascus, Mohammad Riza
Shibani, greeted them with hugs and flowers.   Shibani said
their release was a result of elaborate and "tough"
negotiations, but he did not provide any other details of the
deal. The Syrian government, which rarely gives details on
security related matters, had no official comment and it was not
clear what prompted the exchange.    Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking at a news conference during a
visit to Niger, said four Turks and "a number of Palestinians"
were among the prisoners being released by Syria.  He