7 Mar 2013

UN peacekeepers held on Golan Heights

8:10 am on 7 March 2013

About United Nations 20 peacekeepers had been detained by armed fighters in the Golan Heights between Syria and Israel.

YouTube videos on Wednesday purport showed Syrian rebels with a seized UN convoy .

The UN said the observers were on a regular supply mission who were stopped near Observation Post 58. A team has been sent to negotiate their release.

Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in 1967 and the area is patrolled by UN peacekeepers.