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Concern over Philippine hostages Philippines hostages threatened
(about 3 hours later)
The international Red Cross has said it is "very concerned" for the safety of three of its staff being held hostage in Jolo in the southern Philippines. Armed insurgents in the southern Philippines have threatened to kill one of the hostages they are holding from the International Red Cross (ICRC).
The three - a Filipina, an Italian and a Swiss - were abducted by Muslim militants in Juanuary. They warn they will carry out their threat if the army does not stop its operations against them.
The statement by the International Committee of the Red Cross came after the militants reportedly threatened to kill a hostage if troops advanced. Three hostages were abducted two months ago on the remote island of Jolo.
Fighting between government troops and militants erupted again this week. The insurgents, from the Islamic militant group Abu Sayyaf, have kidnapped a number of foreigners and local people in the past.
The three ICRC staff members Mary Jean Lacaba, 38, Eugenio Vagni, 62, and Andreas Notter, 38, were abducted on 15 January. According to the BBC's South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head, the culture of celebrity in the Philippines is such that, even in a tense hostage standoff like the one going now on Jolo, journalists are able to speak regularly with the Islamic militants who are holding the three Red Cross workers captive.
"The responsibility for their well-being lies with all those involved in this situation," the ICRC said. class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7887521.stm">Guide to the Philippines conflict So it was through a radio interview that the self-styled commander of the hostage-takers was able to relay his demand that the Philippines military pull back from positions where it says it has the group surrounded.
A statement from the ICRC's Geneva headquarters appealed "to the abductors' sense of humanity," and renewed a call for the "immediate and unconditional release" of the workers. Otherwise, he said, he would kill one of the hostages.
class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7887521.stm">Guide to the Philippines conflict Over the past few days there have been several exchanges of fire between the two sides.
The workers are being held by the militant group Abu Sayyaf. The army has refused the demand, insisting it will keep up the pressure on Abu Sayyaf, a local Islamic movement with past links to al-Qaeda, and notorious for its practice of kidnapping for ransom.
Abu Sayyaf leader Albader Parad, who was wounded in this week's fighting, spoke on the phone with head of the Philippines National Red Cross, Senator Richard Gordon on Wednesday. The ICRC has urged restraint, saying the safety of its staff - one Swiss, one Italian and a Filipino - must be paramount. They were abducted as they were leaving a local prison, where they had been inspecting a sanitation project.
The senator said Mr Parad confirmed that the hostages were alive, but told government troops not to come any closer. This impoverished region of the southern Philippines has long been plagued by armed insurgencies of such bewildering complexity it is difficult to be sure of their various motivations; certainly some groups are inspired by the Jihadist ideologies of other Islamic movements, and angered by the central government's neglect.
"Remember, if they pursue operations and they come close to us and another firefight erupts, I will behead one of the group of ICRC hostages," Mr Parad said. But the huge sums of money made from previous kidnappings are also a strong inducement to keep up the armed struggle - as are the army's often half-hearted efforts to contain the insurgent groups.
The aid workers, their hands tied, were seen running with their captors toward a mountain after the militants fought with marines near Indanan township on southern Jolo Island, police Chief Superintendent Bensali Jabarani said.
Senator Gordon strongly criticised government troops for their shooting which had endangered the hostages.
The Philippine military said it would ease off operations to allow for negotiations but would not retreat from its positions.
The ICRC's Alain Aeschlimann said: "We're very concerned to hear about this development in light of the consequences it could have on our staff. Their safety is paramount."
Abu Sayyaf has about 400 members and has a history of kidnappings, beheadings and bombings.