The European Union added its voice Thursday to worldwide calls for the "immediate and unconditional release" of Filipino UN troops abducted by a Syrian rebel group.
High Representative for foreign affairs Catherine Ashton "is alarmed by the detention of more than 20 peacekeepers from the Philippines," said a statement from her Brussels office.
"The EU condemns arbitrary detentions and actions such as hostage-taking as they are serious breaches of international law ... and demands the immediate and unconditional release of the peacekeepers."
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