UN peacekeepers in Golan 'under attack'

Philippine peacekeepers trapped by rebels in the Syrian Golan Heights are "under attack", Philippine Defence Minister Voltaire Gazmin said.

Gazmin told reporters on Saturday in a series of text messages that Filipino troops manning one UN encampment have been "extricated," while soldiers in another encampment were "now under attack".

He did not say whether there were any casualties. Asked how the troops were doing, he said they had "high morale.".

Syrian rebels seized 44 Fijian peacekeepers two days ago and have demanded that 75 Filipinos manning two separate UN encampments surrender their weapons, but they have refused.