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| 45 hostages freed by Islamist militant group in Syria | 45 hostages freed by Islamist militant group in Syria |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| All 45 peace keepers held hostage by a militant Islamic group in Syria have been freed, the UN has announced. | All 45 peace keepers held hostage by a militant Islamic group in Syria have been freed, the UN has announced. |
| In a statement released on Twitter, the UN said the Fijian hostages were handed over unharmed on Thursday afternoon after being held for two weeks by the radical Islamist group Jabhat al-Nusra. | In a statement released on Twitter, the UN said the Fijian hostages were handed over unharmed on Thursday afternoon after being held for two weeks by the radical Islamist group Jabhat al-Nusra. |
| at 1430lcl 45 Fiji @UNPeacekeeping were released & handed over 2 UNDOF at pos 80. All r in good condition. More details later. | at 1430lcl 45 Fiji @UNPeacekeeping were released & handed over 2 UNDOF at pos 80. All r in good condition. More details later. |
| — UN Spokesperson (@UN_Spokesperson) September 11, 2014 | |
| The UN's humanitarian chief, Valerie Amos, expressed her relief. | The UN's humanitarian chief, Valerie Amos, expressed her relief. |
| In Jordan. Relieved to hear that the Fijian #peacekeepers were released | In Jordan. Relieved to hear that the Fijian #peacekeepers were released |
| — Valerie Amos (@ValerieAmos) September 11, 2014 | |
| The group, part of the UN's Disengagement Observer Force in the Golan Heights, were being held by Jabhat al-Nusra, an al-Qaida linked group that is a rival to Islamic State (Isis) militants who now control large parts of Syria and Iraq. | The group, part of the UN's Disengagement Observer Force in the Golan Heights, were being held by Jabhat al-Nusra, an al-Qaida linked group that is a rival to Islamic State (Isis) militants who now control large parts of Syria and Iraq. |
| The group's release came after they appeared in a video and were told they would be freed soon. | The group's release came after they appeared in a video and were told they would be freed soon. |
| Standing in front of the hostages, a spokesman for the militants said they had consulted religious leaders and had been advised "we should release these prisoners". | Standing in front of the hostages, a spokesman for the militants said they had consulted religious leaders and had been advised "we should release these prisoners". |
| At the end of the clip, a Fijian peacekeeper, who did not identify himself, confirmed in English that they had been told they were about to be freed. | At the end of the clip, a Fijian peacekeeper, who did not identify himself, confirmed in English that they had been told they were about to be freed. |
| "It is Tuesday, the ninth of September, I would like to mention to you that it is a very happy day. We have been informed that we will be released soon and we are all very happy to be going home," he said. | "It is Tuesday, the ninth of September, I would like to mention to you that it is a very happy day. We have been informed that we will be released soon and we are all very happy to be going home," he said. |
| The peacekeeper added that the troops were all well and thanked al-Nusra "for keeping us safe and keeping us alive". | The peacekeeper added that the troops were all well and thanked al-Nusra "for keeping us safe and keeping us alive". |
| "I would like to assure you that we have not been harmed in any way," he said. | "I would like to assure you that we have not been harmed in any way," he said. |
| Al-Nusra had originally demanded various terms for the release of the peacekeepers, including the delivery of aid to areas besieged by the Syrian government, the release of prisoners and the group's removal from a UN terror blacklist. | Al-Nusra had originally demanded various terms for the release of the peacekeepers, including the delivery of aid to areas besieged by the Syrian government, the release of prisoners and the group's removal from a UN terror blacklist. |
| The peacekeepers were taken hostage two weeks ago when al-Nusra fighters stormed the Syrian side of the Quneitra crossing that leads to the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. | The peacekeepers were taken hostage two weeks ago when al-Nusra fighters stormed the Syrian side of the Quneitra crossing that leads to the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. |