The United Nations is working on the demands given by the Al-Nusra Front rebel group in return for the release of the 45 Fijian soldiers they are holding under captivity.

Fiji’s Military Commander Brigadier General Mosese Tikoitoga says with such groups, there can be additional demands made during the negotiation process.

In a media briefing this morning, Tikoitoga says at present, there is a lull in negotiations.

“I queried the UN, Why is there a lull n between negotiations and they said it’s normal in such circumstances that the captors why away from negotiations and do not establish contacts so that they can regain the initiative on the negotiations.”

Tikoitoga says the Fiji Military is utilizing offers of assistance from international countries.

“Not only Australia, we’ve also had offers from all other major countries that have intelligence assets in the area or those that can bring to bear the intelligence assets of other countries that are in the area and we are using them. We are pushing information to them for verification and clarification and they are giving us the information that we want.”

It’s now seven days since the soldiers were detained by the rebels and their location is still not known.