KINSHASA (Reuters) - Congolese militia fighters on Tuesday released two of seven Nepalese U.N. peacekeepers they have been holding hostage in the violent east of the country for over a month, U.N. officials said.
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"Two of our men have been released. They were freed early this morning and have come back unharmed," a U.N. military source told Reuters.
A separate U.N. source and a Western diplomat confirmed the releases.
"They were released after Lendu members of parliament became involved," said another U.N. source, who added that the released men were in good health. "They (the MPs) made it clear (to the militia) that it would be the Lendu community that would lose out if this continued."
The U.N. earlier this month sent in hostage negotiators to join local community chiefs in trying to secure the release of the soldiers, part of the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo -- the largest in the world.
Militia fighters seized the soldiers on May 28 in the Ituri district.
A militia loyal to a local warlord on Monday threatened to order their execution them after clashes last week. But U.N. sources questioned whether the group of gunmen holding the troops would follow the order.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060627...qFEDJEAhwdvaA8F;_ylu=X3oDMTA0cDJlYmhvBHNlYwM-
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"Two of our men have been released. They were freed early this morning and have come back unharmed," a U.N. military source told Reuters.
A separate U.N. source and a Western diplomat confirmed the releases.
"They were released after Lendu members of parliament became involved," said another U.N. source, who added that the released men were in good health. "They (the MPs) made it clear (to the militia) that it would be the Lendu community that would lose out if this continued."
The U.N. earlier this month sent in hostage negotiators to join local community chiefs in trying to secure the release of the soldiers, part of the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo -- the largest in the world.
Militia fighters seized the soldiers on May 28 in the Ituri district.
A militia loyal to a local warlord on Monday threatened to order their execution them after clashes last week. But U.N. sources questioned whether the group of gunmen holding the troops would follow the order.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060627...qFEDJEAhwdvaA8F;_ylu=X3oDMTA0cDJlYmhvBHNlYwM-