NEW : The nuns are mobbed by crowds as they arrive in a Syrian - Syria border town . al-Assad and workers kidnapped late November reportedly freed , pro-Syrian regime media say . Lebanese official to state news : Nuns freed in exchange for Syrian prisoners ' release . Christians make up 10 % of Syria 's population ; many back Nuns , fear pro-Syrian militants .
NEW : The nuns are mobbed by crowds as they arrive in a Syrian-Lebanon border town . Nuns and workers kidnapped last year reportedly freed , pro-Syrian regime media say . Lebanese official to state news : Nuns freed in exchange for Syrian prisoners ' release . Christians make up 10 % of Syria 's population ; many back al-Assad , fear Islamist militants .