Filipino peacekeepers in standoff with Syrian rebels in Golan Heights

From the Business World (Aug 28): Filipino peacekeepers in standoff with Syrian rebels in Golan Heights

THE PHILIPPINE contingent to the United Nations (UN) is in a current standoff with Syrian Anti Government Armed Elements (AGAE), after the rebel group took the Fijian positions of the UN force deployed in the area, Philippine military reports said late Thursday evening.

At about 10 am (Syria time) on August 28, the Syrian rebel group demanded that the Fijian force surrender their firearms to them. Upon surrendering their firearms, however, the 43 Fijian peacekeepers were taken hostage.

The Fijian hostages were later taken in tow by the AGAE, as the rebel force encircled the Philippine contingent’s encampments demanding, this time, that the Filipino troops to surrender their weapons according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

A report by global news agency Reuters cited a UN press statement saying that in addition to the 43 Fijian peacekeepers taken hostage by the rebels, 81 peacekeepers from the Philippines were "currently being restricted to their positions in the vicinity of Ar Ruwayhinah and Burayqah."

"The United Nations is making every effort to secure the release of the detained peacekeepers, and to restore the full freedom of movement of the force throughout its area of operation," the statement read.
The AFP said that the Philippine government and the UN are in close coordination and are working together to ensure the safety and security of the Filipino troops.

http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Nation&title=Filipino-peacekeepers-in-standoff-with-Syrian-rebels-in-Golan-Heights&id=93653