First hostages released in Philippine standoff

Rebels abduct civilians to be used as human shields to dodge military attacks

By Rufi Vigilar

MANILA, Philippines (CNN) -- Eight civilians among more than 60 abducted by Muslim rebels early Tuesday morning in the southern Philippines have been released following negotiations.

Among those freed on the southern island of Zamboanga, were four children aged five to 11 years old, a pregnant woman and her two children. A 74-year-old woman wounded in the crossfire was also freed and brought to hospital,Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Clara Lobregat told CNN.

Lobregat added that government negotiators were considering letting the rebels go free if they released "more than 60" of the remaining hostages safely.

The rebels "may be given safe passage if they lay down their arms first," she said.

Some 25 rebels and two soldiers were killed in Tuesday's pre-dawn fighting after government troops pounded a government compound where the rebels are holed up, Armed Forces spokesman Edilberto Adan said.

Two rebels and four soldiers were also wounded in the attack, while an unknown number of civilians were wounded by crossfire.

Human shields

Hostages begged government troops not to fire at the rebels

The clashes began before dawn Tuesday, after a 48-hour deadline for the rebels to surrender lapsed.

The government troops ordered the rebels to leave the Cabatangan complex after Mondya's regional elections.

However, the rebels moved quietly into the neighborhoods and took dozens of hostages in anticipation of heavy fighting.

The rebels then held their captives inside the government compound, which housed the former office of the recently-arrested rebel Nur Misuari when he served as governor of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao.

But they later fled the compound, dragging along dozens of roped-together hostages as human shields.

Some of the captives were sobbing and begging for troops not to shoot. The soldiers slowly backed down.

COUNTRY PROFILE At a glance: Philippines Provided by CountryWatch.com    CNN.com Asia More news from our Asia edition

Midmorning Tuesday, the rebels sent out a hostage telling the military that the rebels want a safe passage to exit and escape.

Fighting was halted and negotiations were held for the safe release of the hostages.

Officials said about 5,000 people living near the Cabatangan complex already fled to evacuation centers.

Roadblocks have also been put up around the city. The airport was shut down, while schools and business establishments closed up.

Last stand

Rebels display some of their hostages held at the Muslim regional government compound in Zamboanga

The abduction of the captives was a last ditch effort by Misuari's supporters to destabilize the Southern Philippine region.

Misuari earlier threatened to take up arms and renege on the 1996 peace agreement he signed with the government should they call for an election in the region.

Last week, hundreds of Misuari's supporters stormed a military outpost in the town of Jolo to disrupt regional elections. More than 100 Misuari loyalists, seven civilians and four soldiers were killed in subsequent fighting. Misuari then fled to Malaysia, where he was arrested over the weekend for illegal entry.

He is expected to be deported to Manila where he will face a string of charges, including rebellion.