U.N. Asks Austria to Slow Golan Pull-Out

The United Nations urged Austria on Thursday to prolong the withdrawal of its peacekeeping troops from the Golan Heights until the end of July to allow it to find replacements.

Austria had been the leading contingent in the UNDOF force, which oversees the ceasefire line between war-torn Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan, but has announced plans to withdraw its force as violence mounts.

"The Department of Peacekeeping Operations formally requested Austria to complete the withdrawal of its personnel no earlier than the end of July to ensure a smooth transition," spokesman Martin Nesirky said.

The spokesman said the United Nations had asked the Austrian troops to leave much of their equipment behind for incoming troops and to ensure a continued U.N. presence on key sites such as Mount Hermon.

"The Department of Peacekeeping Operations says it trusts that Austria, given its long-standing and valuable contribution to the mission, will keep the interest of the mission at heart while withdrawing its personnel," he said.

Austrian troops began pulling out of the Golan on Wednesday amid fears that the violence between rebels and government forces in Syria could spill into the border zone or trigger clashes with Israel.

At least 67 of the 378 Austrian troops have left, and Vienna has said the rest will pull out over the next "two to four weeks."

Nesirky said the United Nations was "urgently approaching possible troop contributing countries to replace Austria."

U.N. blue helmets have been patrolling the Golan since 1974 to oversee the ceasefire that marked the end of the 1973 Israeli-Arab war.

Israel has occupied the Golan Heights since 1967, but its annexation of the Syrian territory has never been recognized.