MOSCOW, September 2 (RIA Novosti) – The al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front has announced the requirements for the release of 45 peacekeepers from Fiji, the Associated Press reported, citing a representative of the Fiji army.
The militants put forward three conditions for the release of the peacekeepers: the Nusra Front must be excluded from the UN list of terrorist groups, humanitarian supplies must be sent to various areas of the Syrian capital of Damascus, and the compensation must be paid for the three fighters who were killed in the confrontation with the UN officers.
According to the agency, the militants have been holding UNDOF peacekeepers captive for five days. Earlier it was reported that the UNDOF mission from Fiji was captured, and that 72 Filipino peacekeepers were blocked in areas of clashes between militants and the Syrian army. Later all the Filipino peacekeepers managed to break out of encirclement.
Brig. Gen. Mosese Tikoitoga said the UN had already sent its representatives to Syria to participate in the negotiations and facilitate the release of the hostages.
UNDOF peacekeeping mission has been staying in Golan to monitor if the ceasefire is held after the end of war between Israel and Syria in 1973. Currently the mission includes 1,223 people from six countries - Fiji, India, Ireland, Nepal, the Netherlands and the Philippines.
