Location of detained Fijian soldiers still unknown - Tikoitoga

Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Brigadier General Mosese Tikoitoga said they still cannot determine the location of the 44 Fijian soldiers who have been detained by the al-Nusra Front rebels in Syria.

In a press conference this morning, Tikoitoga said the whole of the UN Peacekeepers are under siege from the anti-government armed elements.

Tikoitoga said the Filipino troops are withdrawing from their UN Position 69 after being fired upon by armed elements before UN Position 68 was also attacked by the rebels with mortar and heavy machine guns.

The UN peacekeepers returned fire and prevented the attackers from entering the position.

Tikoitoga said the negotiation teams are still trying to negotiate with the Filipinos and the armed elements which can also affect the Fijian troops.

The Commander said that it is unfortunate that the UN position that the Fijian soldiers were located in was right in the middle of the town that the al-Nusra Front rebels wanted.

He assured the public that our men are safe and that other countries have offered their support in different ways for the release of the detained Fijian troops.

However Tikoitoga is still concerned that their location is unknown.

He said that he stands by the decision made by the Commanding Officer who was with the 44 soldiers to surrender to the rebels.

Tikoitoga is calling on everyone to remember our men in their prayers as they have been having sleepless nights.

RFMF Commander Tikoitoga update on detained Fiji soldiers