Pacific Scoop’s Alistar Kata reports on the captive soldiers from Suva. Since this press conference, the RFMF has retracted these “release” statements. See later story.

Pacific Scoop:
Report – By Nasik Swami in Suva

Fiji military commander Brigadier-General Mosese Tikoitoga has confirmed that the 45 captured Fijian soldiers in the Golan Heights on the Israel-Syria border will be released soon.

Brig-Gen Tikoitoga said the message was relayed to the United Nations by senior members of the al-Nusra Front, which is holding them captive.

He said the front would make no further demands.

Brig-Gen Tikoitoga also said while no exact date for their release hds been given, the soldiers would be released very soon.

He said the UN, together with Fiji’s Ambassador-at-large, Major-General Ioane Naivalurua, and Land Force Commander Lieutenant-Colonel Jone Kalouniwai and his team were ready to receive the 45 soldiers.

Maj-Gen Ioane Naivalurua is currently at the UN headquarters in New York and Lieutenant-Colonel Jone Kalouniwai is expected in the Golan Heights today.

Brig-Gen Tikoitoga attributed the positive results to the Republic of Fiji Military Force’s (RFMF) friendly relations with the people of Syria.

Nasik Swami is a Fiji Times reporter.