Negotiator: Some Philippines hostages could be freed Saturday

August 25, 2000
Web posted at: 1:20 PM HKT (0520 GMT)

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (Reuters) -- Negotiators trying to secure the release of international hostages held for months by Muslim rebels in the southern Philippines have said some of the captives could be freed by Saturday.

"I don't want to cause another disappointment, but I am very hopeful," negotiator Farouk Hussain, who held talks with the Abu Sayyaf guerrillas in their stronghold on Jolo island earlier this week, told Reuters on Friday.

Asked if some of the captives could be freed on Saturday, he said: "Why not?"

He said the arrest of two men in Zamboanga, 150 kilometers (100 miles) northeast of Jolo, while attempting to convert $240,000 into pesos at a local bank would not affect arrangements for any possible release.

Police in Zamboanga, the nearest big city to Jolo, said the two appeared to be relatives of top leaders of the Abu Sayyaf rebels, and were probably attempting to convert ransom payments into local currency.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer said a senior government official had called the Zamboanga police and pleaded with them to let off the two men, but to no avail. The report could not be immediately confirmed.

The Abu Sayyaf kidnapped 21 people from Sipadan, a Malaysian diving resort, on April 23 and whisked them away to Jolo, 960 kilometers (600 miles) south of Manila. Nine Malaysians, a Filipina and a German woman have since been freed.

But the rebels still hold a Filipino resort worker and nine tourists -- three French, two Germans, two Finns and two South Africans. They are also holding three French television journalists kidnapped on Jolo last month.

The Philippine military has said the rebels have received $5.5 million for hostages already released. Sources close to the negotiations have said the rebels were demanding $1 million for each of the 12 international captives still in their custody.

The Philippines and Libya, which has mounted a major initiative to secure the hostages' freedom, have steadfastly denied any money has been paid. Libyan officials have said any money paid would be used for development projects in the impoverished southern Philippines.

Arrangements to free the hostages last Saturday fell through when the rebels said they feared a military attack. Some sources, however, said there were also differences over ransom.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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