2014-09-12 16:21:00

‎45 UN peacekeepers from Fiji freed in Syria‎


Al-Qaida-linked militants released 45 United Nations peacekeepers from Fiji, who were captured two week ago in Syria, ending the U.N.’s fourth crisis over abducted soldiers in the Golan Heights since March 2013 amid questions about the future of its 40-year-old monitoring mission there.  The Fijians were captured Aug. 28‎ on the Syrian-controlled side of the Golan Heights by fighters from the Nusra Front, who have been battling Syrian government forces in the contested buffer zone between Syria and Israel. The 1,200-strong U.N. force that has patrolled the zone since 1974 has increasingly been caught in the spillover from Syria's civil war.   U.N. Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said ``no demands were made and no concessions were made'' to secure the release of the peacekeepers.  U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon thanked the efforts ``of all concerned'' in the release, without naming anyone. He demanded that all parties respect the mandate of the U.N. force and the right of peacekeepers to move freely and safely, according to a statement from his office.








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