Mystery shrouded the release of the kidnapped Estonians after high-ranking sources hinted of Syria’s involvement in setting free the seven cyclists as a good gesture to the European Union.

A high-ranking security source did not rule out that Syria helped release the hostages on Thursday after it was embarrassed by attacks by pro-regime supporters on the French and U.S. embassies in Damascus earlier in the week.

French Ambassador to Lebanon Denis Pietton praised on Thursday the release of the seven abducted Estonians, which was achieved through an intense investigation.

Pietton held a meeting with Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour, who said that the “visit was scheduled a while ago… to get to know Minister Mansour.”

Belgium will enforce a burqa ban from July 23 with a fine and possible jail time for women who wear it, joining France as the second EU nation to forbid full veils, Belgian media said Thursday.

The new law was published Wednesday in the kingdom's official journal after deputies approved it unanimously in parliament in April.

Seven kidnapped Estonians were freed in Lebanon on Thursday, almost four months since armed men abducted them as they entered the country on a bicycle tour from neighboring Syria.

Later on Thursday, Military Investigative Judge Fadi Sawwan heard the testimonies of the seven men in his office at the Military Court in Beirut.

France on Wednesday slammed as "indecent" Russia and China's "blocking" of a proposed United Nations resolution condemning Syria's deadly crackdown on anti-regime protests.

"It is indecent because (Syrian leader) Bashar Assad has mobilized incredible resources to neutralize his opposition," said Defense Minister Gerard Longuet.

The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday issued a statement condemning "in the strongest terms" the attacks against the U.S. and French embassies in the Syrian capital, Damascus.

The statement which was approved by all 15 council members said the attacks damaged the embassies and injured diplomatic personnel.

A political settlement to the Libya conflict is "beginning to take shape", French Prime Minister Francois Fillon told parliament on Tuesday.

"A political solution in Libya is more indispensable than ever and it is beginning to take shape," he said, as lawmakers debated prolonging France's role in the bombing campaign against Libyan ruler Moammar Gadhafi's regime.

French and Libyan officials talked up Tuesday the chances of negotiating Moammar Gadhafi's withdrawal from power and an end to the conflict wracking his country, after months of military stalemate.

Gadhafi's own prime minister told a French daily that the embattled regime was ready to begin talks with Paris and Libyan rebels "without preconditions" and without the interference of its authoritarian "Guide".

France renewed its demand that the United Nations Security Council take a stance on the crisis in Syria on Tuesday, after mobs backing President Bashar Assad attacked the U.S. and French embassies.

"France and other European countries have submitted a proposed resolution to the U.N. Security Council, which has been blocked by Russia and China," Prime Minister Francois Fillon said on Europe 1 radio.

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said Tuesday that France had had "contacts" with the Libyan regime concerning the departure of leader Moammar Gadhafi but no real negotiations had taken place.

"There have indeed been contacts, but it has not turned into a real negotiation," he told France Info radio station. "The Libyan regime is sending messengers everywhere: to Turkey, New York, Paris," he said.