Syrian authorities have released a Czech woman held since the end of last month on suspicion of aiding the opposition, the Czech foreign ministry has announced.

"Czech national Sandra Bitarova arrested and held in Syria was freed today," spokesman Vit Kolar said. "She is safe and sound, according to the embassy in Damascus."

Local media in the Czech republic reported that Bitarova's father, a Syrian national, was a moderate member of the opposition against Bashar al-Assad's government.