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Philippines hostages threatened Philippines hostage deal brokered
(about 4 hours later)
Armed insurgents in the southern Philippines have threatened to kill one of the hostages they are holding from the International Red Cross (ICRC). Islamic militants in the southern Philippines have agreed to release one of three abducted aid workers, the International Red Cross (ICRC) says.
They warn they will carry out their threat if the army does not stop its operations against them. Senator Richard Gordon, who heads the local ICRC mission, said the army was preparing to "reposition" its troops to allow the transfer to take place.
Three hostages were abducted two months ago on the remote island of Jolo. The hostages were abducted two months ago on the remote island of Jolo.
The insurgents, from the Islamic militant group Abu Sayyaf, have kidnapped a number of foreigners and local people in the past. Earlier, the rebels threatened to kill one of the captives if the military did not halt its operations against them.
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 insurgents, from the Islamic militant group Abu Sayyaf, have kidnapped a number of foreigners and locals in the past.
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. Guide to the Philippines conflict Mr Gordon said he had held emergency talks with military officials after he secured a commitment from Abu Sayyaf leader Albader Parad to release one of the hostages.
Otherwise, he said, he would kill one of the hostages. "The military is going to redeploy out of the area so one of our associates can get out," Mr Gordon said, adding that it was unclear which of the three workers would be freed.
Mr Gordon said it was not yet known when the handover would take place, but he said that troops were preparing to move.
The trio - one Swiss, one Italian and a Filipina - were abducted as they were leaving a local prison, where they had been inspecting a sanitation project.
Over the past few days there have been several exchanges of fire between the two sides.Over the past few days there have been several exchanges of fire between the two sides.
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. Various motivations
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 self-styled commander of the hostage-takers, Albader Parad, appeared on radio to relay his demand that the Philippines military pull back from positions where it says it has the group surrounded.
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. He said he would kill one of the hostages if the military did not comply with this request.
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 army refused the demand, insisting it would 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.
The BBC's South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head says this impoverished region has long been plagued by armed insurgencies of such bewildering complexity it is difficult to be sure of their various motivations.
Some groups are inspired by the Jihadist ideologies of other Islamic movements, and angered by the central government's neglect, he says.
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, our correspondent adds.