DATE=5/2/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PHILIPPINES HOSTAGES (L UPDATE
NUMBER=2-261901
BYLINE=MIKE COHEN
DATELINE=MANILA
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:. Muslim extremists in the Southern Philippines
have threatened to behead some of the hostages they
kidnapped from a Malaysian diving resort last month.
.The threat came as government troops clashed with the
rebels Tuesday, leaving at least one soldier dead and
injuring several others. Mike Cohen reports.
Text: The fighting erupted on the perimeter of a
security cordon less than two kilometers from where
the 21 hostages are being held on Jolo Island.
Officials say the clash was a chance encounter and was
not part of a rescue effort. The rebels captured the
21 hostages, including ten foreign tourists, from a
diving resort in Malaysia on April 23rd.
Officials say sporadic fighting between government
troops and Muslim rebels from the Abu Sayyaf group is
continuing.
The rebels have called on the government to pull their
forces back from the area where the hostages are being
held or they will behead two of the western hostages.
The threat was phoned into a local Philippine radio
station by a man claiming to be a rebel leader.
Philippine Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado and chief
negotiator Nur Misuari have rejected rebel demands for
a troop pullback.
The Jolo Island hostages wrote letters to their
embassies Monday asking them to pressure the
Philippine government to speed up negotiations and
remove its troops from the area.
Meanwhile, Philippine military commanders say they are
moving in more troops to prevent Abu Sayyaf
rebels holding another group of hostages from linking
up with the rebels on Jolo Island. (SIGNED)
NEB/MC/KBK
02-May-2000 12:07 PM EDT (02-May-2000 1607 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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