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11/02/2024 09:27:30 am

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Al Qaeda-Linked Syrian Rebels Release 45 Fijian UN Peacekeepers

Syrian army soldiers

(Photo : REUTERS/BAZ RATNER) Syrian army soldiers fire during a battle in Syria with rebels near the border fence with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights September 1, 2014.

The United Nations said the 45 Fijian peacekeepers held captives by the Al Qaeda's Syrian affiliate Nusra Front were released on Thursday.

After two weeks in captivity, U.N. Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq said that the Fijian forces had been freed at the Quneitra crossing point in the Syrian-controlled area of the Golan Heights.

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All 45 peacekeepers “are in good condition” and will undergo a quick medical assessment, the U.N. said in a separate statement.

Stephane Dujarric, the U.N. Spokesman, confirmed that the Nusra front did not make any demands. They also did not request for a ransom and none was paid for the release of the Fijian peacekeepers.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon welcomed the return of Fijians peacekeepers and appreciated the efforts of all those who exerted efforts for their release, the report stated.

According to a spokesman, Secretary General Ban urged all parties to respect the U.N. mission's mandate, “freedom of movement and the safety and security of its personnel."

Last August 28, the Fijian forces were taken hostage by the Syrian rebels a day after they took over the Syrian part of the Quneitra border crossing from the Syrian government.

Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe "Frank" Bainimarama called the released men heroes as they kept their cool and showed restraint "under the most extreme circumstances."

No militant was killed and no U.N. soldiers were harmed because of the troops' discipline. They held onto the integrity of the organization's peacekeeping mission and will still perform their duties when called for, Bainimarama added.

The peacekeepers’ release came after the Nusra Front rebels posted a video online showing all Fijian captives in good condition.

Al-Nusra top leader Sami al-Oreidi said a Nusra Front doctor had promised safety to the peacekeepers. After seeking advice from Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi, a Jordanian cleric, the al-Nusra group decided to respect the doctor’s promise and free the Fijians.

"We are all safe and alive," one Fijian hostage said in the vide. "And we thank Jabhat al-Nusra for keeping us safe and keeping us alive."

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