Mission says video of U.S. hostages may not be new

MANILA, Philippines (CNN) -- For the first time in months, a videotape of an American missionary couple was released Thursday, showing them looking healthy while reading a statement from Abu Sayyaf, the militant rebel group holding them hostage in the Philippines.

But the couple's mission told CNN it believes it is an old videotape.

With hooded, armed rebels in the background, Martin and Gracia Burnham appear in the forefront of the video, released by Reuters news agency. In it, Martin reads a statement that says their captors are targeting Americans, Europeans and other Westerners because of U.S. policies in the Middle East. (Full statement)

Scott Ross, a spokesman for the New Tribes Mission, said: "We're not seeing it as a new video."

VIDEO Watch the videotape made by Abu Sayyaf of the Burnhams, with armed and hooded rebels in the background. Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) CNN's Maria Ressa reports that three men in custody in the Philippines are suspected to be part of an al Qaeda terrorist cell. (March 7) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   MORE STORIES Full text: Abu Sayyaf statement as read by the Burnhams    EXTRA INFORMATION In-Depth: Abu Sayyaf: Militants in the Philippines    AUDIO CNN's Atika Shubert in Zamboanga on the video statement by the Burnhams 1.17 MB / 1min. 55 secs. WAV sound    CNN.com Asia More news from our Asia edition

Ross told CNN in a telephone interview that upon careful examination, he and others believe the video has a number of inconsistencies, including:

Reuters reported that the cameraman, who identified himself as a former Muslim rebel, would not say exactly where he shot the video. He told Reuters he made the tape in mid-January after being granted access to Abu Sayyaf's hideouts in the islands of Jolo and Basilan. His statements could not be independently verified, Reuters reported. The video statement indicates Abu Sayyaf believe they are in league with al Qaeda.

U.S. Special Forces have joined Filipino patrols in the jungles of Basilan, where the Islamic extremist group has been holding the U.S. couple and a Filipina nurse hostage. The joint mission, aimed at wiping out Abu Sayyaf, is part of the U.S.-led war on terrorism. (More on U.S. deployments in the war on terror)

The United States has put Abu Sayyaf on a list of terrorist groups with suspected links to the al Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden.

The Burnhams, from Wichita, Kansas, were snatched last year along with American Guillermo Sobero and 17 Filipinos.

Sobero, a Californian native, was beheaded. His remains were uncovered by Filipino troops near the Abu Sayyaf's jungle post in Basilan province.

The other 16 Filipinos were later released.

CNN State Department Correspondent Andrea Koppel contributed to this report

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