Two detained U.N. peacekeepers released in Syria

The United Nations announced on Tuesday the release in the last few days of two of its staff members previously detained in Syria, according to the Associated Press.

The international organization is trying to secure the release of all U.N. personnel “as soon as possible,” Martin Nesirky, U.N. spokesman said, while clarifying that 19 other peacekeepers are still being held.

Nesirky who did not specify who was holding all U.N. personnel and said that most of the detainees were Syrians.

Also on Tuesday, Farhan Haq, U.N. deputy spokesperson, said that the two detainees were of Syrian nationality.

One of them worked for the U.N. agency dealing with Palestinian refugees while the other operated for the U.N. Habitat, Haq said, according to the Associated Press.

One U.N. worker was kidnapped for eight months in Syria and was released in October 2013 and another two dozen U.N. peacekeepers were briefly held last year.
 

(With AP)