Al-Nusra Front Threatens to Try UN Fijian Peacekeepers

Local Editor

Syrian al-Qaeda branch al-Nusra Front threatened to try 45 UN peacekeepers from Fiji abducted last week in the Golan Heights.

According to the London-based daily Asharq al-Awsat, the extremist group said it would try the soldiers according to the so-called "Sharia" law.

The report added that there has been no progress in talks to release the Fijians.
On Wednesday, the UN Security Council called on "countries with influence" to press the al-Qaeda-linked terrorists to release the peacekeepers.

A press statement approved by all 15 council members, after a briefing by UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous, again demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the Fijian peacekeepers.

Heavy clashes have raged in the Golan Heights since Syrian armed groups captured a border crossing between Syria and the Occupied Palestine near Quneitra last Wednesday.

Ladsous told reporters the peacekeepers have shown "steadfastness and courage" and said the UN is working to obtain the swift and unconditional release of the Fijians.
"We are sparing no effort to obtain the release of the detained peacekeepers," he said, but gave no details, stressing the importance of "discretion."

Fiji commander Brig. Gen. Mosese Tikoitoga said Tuesday that al-Nusra Front has made three demands for the release of the peacekeepers: It wants to be taken off the UN terrorist list; it demands that humanitarian aid be delivered to parts of the Syrian capital of Damascus; and it calls for compensation for three of its fighters who, it claims, were killed in a shootout with UN officers.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team