Rescue raid ends in hostage deaths

Jungle action leaves missionary, nurse, some troops dead

Martin and Gracia Burnham

MANILA, Philippines (CNN) -- A Philippine commando raid meant to free two Americans and a Philippine citizen held hostage by the Islamic rebel group Abu Sayyaf ended with two of the hostages dead Friday.

The hostages were held for more than a year by Abu Sayyaf, an Islamic separatist group in the southern Philippines that U.S. officials say is linked to al Qaeda. President Bush said Friday that Abu Sayyaf would be held accountable for the hostages' deaths.

The rescue attempt early Friday led to a two-hour firefight and the deaths of hostages Martin Burnham, an American missionary from Wichita, Kansas, and Deborah Yap, a Filipina nurse. The third hostage -- Burnham's wife, Gracia Burnham -- was wounded in her right leg and is out of danger, Philippine Marine Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Teodosio said.

Officials said that several Filipino soldiers and rebels also died in the rescue attempt.

CNN NewsPass VIDEO Doug Burnham, brother of the U.S. missionary who was slain by Philippine militants, speaks about his family's loss. Play video   MORE STORIES Last words: Burnham left letter for his children    RESOURCES • CNN Access: Doug Burnham  • On the Scene: CNN's Maria Ressa    EXTRA INFORMATION Abu Sayyaf: Militants in the Philippines    IN-DEPTH U.S. Military in the Philippines     CNN.com Asia More news from our Asia edition

Authorities said Gracia Burnham was being brought to Manila to be reunited with her sister, Cheryl Spicer. Martin Burnham's body will be taken to Okinawa for transport to the United States, they said.

In Kansas, Doug Burnham, Martin Burnham's brother, said Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo telephoned the family personally to give them the news.

"Obviously it hasn't turned out the way we were expecting it to turn out," he said from Rose Hill Bible Church. "We are thankful that Gracia is alive, and our faith in the Lord is still the same. It doesn't change, and that's what we're going to hold onto." (Family reaction)

Bush expressed his sympathies to the Burnham family and said he had discussed the raid with Arroyo.

"She assured me that the Philippine government would hold the terrorist group accountable for how they treated these Americans, that justice would be done," Bush said.

The president later phoned Burnham's parents to "personally express his condolences," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said.

A premonition of violence had led Martin Burnham to write a letter several days ago to his three children, a senior Philippine military official said. That letter was recovered after the rescue. (Full story)

Arroyo vows to destroy Abu Sayyaf

The Burnham children remain with their maternal grandparents, Doug Burnham said. He declined to express an opinion about the rescue attempt, saying there were not enough details available to form one.

"We are grateful for everyone who tried to rescue them," he said. "I'm sure in the future, we'll get more details."

The three were the last held among a group snatched over a year ago by Abu Sayyaf kidnappers from a beach resort in western Palawan province. The rescue attempt took place in the southern Philippine city of Zamboanga.

During a news conference in Brussels, Belgium, U.S. Gen. Richard Myers confirmed the rescue operation had taken place. He said United States troops were not involved in the rescue attempt, but did provide a military helicopter to fly Gracia Burnham to safety. (Full story)

The Burnhams were snatched on May 27, 2001, along with American Guillermo Sobero and 17 Filipinos. Yap was taken a month after the Burnhams. Sobero, a Californian native, was later found to have been beheaded after his remains were uncovered by Philippine troops near the Abu Sayyaf's jungle hideout on Basilan Island.

The other 16 Filipinos were later released.

Abu Sayyaf recently admitted to having links with Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda terrorist network, seemingly confirming U.S. suspicions that the kidnappers were tied to the group blamed for the September 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

Arroyo expressed sympathy to the families and vowed to pursue the Abu Sayyaf until they were eliminated.

"This has been a long and painful trial for (the families of the hostages). Our soldiers had tried to hold fire for their safety. We had hoped and prayed for their safe return. Gracia is safe; this is our blessing," Arroyo said in a statement issued Friday.

"The terrorists shall not be allowed to get away with this. We shall not stop until the Abu Sayyaf is finished."