Two Turkish journalists held by Syrian authorities are in good health but their release is likely to take time, a member of the Turkish Islamic aid group IHH has said.

"Our delegation visited the two journalists in Damascus on Saturday. They are in good health but it appears their release will take time," said Huseyin Oruc.

Freelance cameraman Hamit Coskun and Adem Ozkose from the Istanbul-based newspaper Milat traveled to Idlib near the Turkish border in March as regime forces tried to push out insurgents. The pair were reportedly handed over to Syrian intelligence by a pro-regime militia in March.

The two journalists are "in the hands of the regime," said Oruc: "We are carrying out humanitarian diplomacy for their release."

Ozkose was able to call home on Saturday, speaking for about three minutes, for the first time in two months.