Separatists claim responsibility for kidnappings

Philippines islands attract tourists with good beaches, diving and snorkelling

PUERTO PRINCESA, Philippines -- The Muslim separatist group Abu Sayyaf has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of twenty people in the Philippines.

Abu Sabaya, a leader of the Abu Sayyaf separatists, said in a radio interview that the hostages had been divided into two groups and taken to different islands.

About two dozen gunmen stormed the Dos Palmas resort, 375 miles southwest of Manila, in a dawn raid Sunday. Among the captives are 14 Filipinos, three Americans and a Spaniard.

"We are admitting it, we are the ones who did it," Abu Sabaya told the DXRV radio station in a telephone call.

Martin Burnham, one of three Americans among the hostages, told the radio station: "Hi, I am Mr Martin Burnham, a U.S. citizen. I am a missionary. I am with my wife, we are in the custody of the Abu Sayyaf under Khadafi Janjalani.

"I am safe and unharmed."

It was the first contact with the kidnappers and their hostages since the dawn raid off Palawan province by two dozen armed men.

The military had launched an air and sea search that had yielded several suspected sightings, including one late Sunday that indicated the raiders had abandoned their escape boat and split up into three vessels.

While there was no word on where the kidnappers and the victims were now hiding, it is believed have taken cover on islets in the vicinity of Palawan island.

This is the second time in as many years that the Philippine government faces the possibility of a hostage standoff.

Last year, Abu Sayyaf gunmen took more than 40 people hostage, including a number of international tourists from the Malaysian tourist resort of Sipadan.

In the drawn-out saga, the hostages were held at the rebels' camp in southern Jolo -- many were released only after ransom payments were made.

This time Philippine officials say they at least will not be paying any ransom for the hostages.

Travel warning

The latest saga began after about two dozen armed men wearing ski masks arrived in a large outrigger canoe at the Dos Palmas resort in Palawan's Honda Bay.

The guests taken hostage are believed to include 13 Chinese Filipinos, three Americans and at least one child. Two security men and a kitchen worker were also snatched.

Troops killed several Abu Sayyaf members last month as Arroyo ordered a raid on the rebels

Staff and guests at other resorts in the area have been put on alert.

Palawan Governor Joel Reyes has offered a reward of $20,000 for information leading to release of the hostages.

Shortly after news of the kidnapping broke the U.S. State Department issued a statement urging American citizens in the Philippines to be very careful and avoid travel to certain islands.

"A series of security-related incidents has made travel unsafe in certain areas of the Philippines," the statement said.

The kidnappings come as the Philippines struggles to cope with the bloodiest election violence in years amid a bitter political wrangle between President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and jailed former president Joseph Estrada.

Arroyo has condemned the kidnappings as a "dastardly criminal act of desperate, ruthless bandits" and ordered the military to continue pursuit of the abductors.