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              Talks Continue to Free UN Peacekeepers Held in Syria

   Negotiations to free 21 United Nations peacekeepers being held by
   Syrian rebels have stretched into a third day Friday with no sign of
   progress.
   The peacekeepers from the Philippines are part of a 1,000-plus force
   that patrols a zone between Israel and Syria in the Golan Heights. They
   were detained Wednesday by Syrian rebels who have identified themselves
   as the Martyrs of Yarmouk.
   U.N. officials have been negotiating their release with rebel
   commanders, who are demanding that Syrian government troops leave the
   area. President Bashar al-Assad has not commented on the incident.
   Video posted online by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights shows
   some of the Filipino peacekeepers. One peacekeeper, who identified
   himself as the captain, said he and his men were safe.
   The observatory says the rebel group is fighting for villages in the
   area and has been operating independently.
   Both the U.N. and the Philippines have strongly condemned the seizure.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/talks-continue-to-free-un-peacekeeper
   s-held-in-syria/1617809.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/talks-continue-to-free-un-peacekeepers-held-in-syria/1617809.html