Two Nepali peacekeepers freed in Congo

Congolese insurgents have released two of the seven abducted Nepali peacekeepers on Tuesday.

An official at the Directorate of Public Relations of the Nepali Army told Nepalnews that the released soldiers have been identified as Prem Bahadur Thapa and Kale Sarki.

British news agency Reuters reported from Kinshasa quoting UN sources that the militants have released two peacekeepers after a month in captivity. They were released unharmed. The seven Nepali peacekeepers were abducted on May 28.

"Two of our men have been released. They were freed early this morning and are unharmed," the agency quoted a UN military source. Soldiers Gir Bahadur Thapa, Tuk Jung Gurung, Chhatra Bahadur Basnet, Sher Bahadur Bista and Jhalak Kunwar are still in captivity.

One Nepali soldier, Gyan Bahadur Adhikari, was killed and three others injured in an encounter with the insurgents in Ituri district of Congo on May 28.

A battalion of 850 Nepali soldiers were sent to Congo in March this year for a period of six months and are a part of 17,500 international troops stationed in Congo to maintain peace ahead of the general elections scheduled for July 30. nepalnews.com ia June 27 06

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