While al-Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate al-Nusra Front has said it will free 45 Fijian U.N. peacekeepers, it released a video late Wednesday showing a Fijian peacekeeper thanking the militant group for keeping him and his colleagues alive, Agence France-Presse reported.
In the video released through its media wing, Al-Nusra Front said it had consulted religious leaders and they had advised “that we should release these prisoners.”
A Fijian peacekeeper, who did not identify himself, spoke in the footage, confirming that the group had pledged to free the soldiers.
“It is Tuesday, the ninth of September, I would like to mention to you that it is a very happy day,” the peacekeeper says in English.
“We have been informed that we will be released soon and we are all very happy to be going home.”
The peacekeeper adds that the troops “are all safe and alive” and thanks al-Nusra “for keeping us safe and keeping us alive.”
“I would like to assure you that we have not been harmed in any way,” he says.
