Nusra Front rebels holding 45 Fijian United Nations peacekeepers hostage issued a set of demands for their release yesterday.

The demands included the extremist group’s removal from a UN terrorist list and compensation for the killing of three of its fighters in a shootout with international troops, according to UN officials.

The front seized the Fijians last Thursday in the Golan Heights, where a 1,200-strong UN force monitors the buffer zone between Syria and Israel.

The rebels also surrounded two Filipino units, but they escaped.

Speaking in the Fijian capital Suva, military commander Brigadier General Mosese Tikoitoga said the Nusra Front’s three demands were to be struck from the UN terrorist list, the delivery of humanitarian aid to parts of the Syrian capital Damascus and payment for three of its fighters it says were killed in a shootout with UN forces.

Gen Tikoitoga did not say whether the rebels’ demands would be considered.

He said the UN had sent hostage negotiators to Syria to take over discussions from military leaders.

“Negotiations have moved up to another level with the professional negotiators now in place,” he said.

Gen Tikoitoga also released the names of the 45 detained soldiers, asking Fijians to help look after the families of the captive troops and offer support.

He added that “the UN has assured us they will use all of their available resources for the safe return of our soldiers.”