Philippines Golan peacekeepers to stay for now

The Philippines Wednesday said it would keep its peacekeepers in the Golan Heights until at least August, and may stay longer if the United Nations increased security there.

The announcement by Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario followed repeated government warnings in recent weeks that it was considering swiftly pulling out its 341 soldiers from the volatile area between Syria and Israel. "We're committed to staying at least until August 3," del Rosario told a news conference in Manila. Syrian rebels kidnapped 25 Filipino peacekeepers in two separate incidents in the Golan Heights this year. (AFP)