Five Nepali peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been freed on Saturday following more than a month in captivity.

According to a press release issued by the UN in Berlin, Germany late Saturday, five Nepali soldiers were released with the efforts of the local leaders.

The five had been held, along with two others released on June 27, by the Front des Nationalistes et des Intégrationistes (FNI) militia in Ituri region since May 28.

A UN spokesman said UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is “deeply thankful to representatives of the local community, who have worked closely with MONUC to secure the release of the peacekeepers.”

The seven peacekeepers were taken captive in the area of Tsupu in Ituri during a firefight with the FNI militia which caused the death of one Nepali soldier while three others were injured.

Welcoming the release of the peacekeepers, Annan sent his condolences to the family of the peacekeeper who was killed during that attack, as well as to the Government of Nepal.

“He hopes that the seven (freed soldiers) and their families will recover from the anguish they have suffered during this terrible ordeal,” the statement quoted Annan as saying.