The Philippines has strongly condemned the hostage-taking of 21 Filipino UN peacekeepers by Syrian rebels in the Golan Heights on the border between Syria and Israel and demanded their immediate release.
The soldiers, part of a contingent of 300 Filipino peacekeepers, were detained on March 6 by a group calling itself the "Martyrs of Yarmouk."
The rebels posted a YouTube video saying they will not be released until Syrian government forces withdraw from a Golan village.
The Philippines’ Foreign Ministry said that negotiations were under way to secure the soldiers' release.
The UN has deployed monitors in the Golan since the 1974 cease-fire between Israel and Syria.
Croatia announced last week it was withdrawing its peacekeeping troops from the area because it feared for the soldiers' safety.
The soldiers, part of a contingent of 300 Filipino peacekeepers, were detained on March 6 by a group calling itself the "Martyrs of Yarmouk."
The rebels posted a YouTube video saying they will not be released until Syrian government forces withdraw from a Golan village.
The Philippines’ Foreign Ministry said that negotiations were under way to secure the soldiers' release.
The UN has deployed monitors in the Golan since the 1974 cease-fire between Israel and Syria.
Croatia announced last week it was withdrawing its peacekeeping troops from the area because it feared for the soldiers' safety.