Government forces kill three hostage-takers in southern Philippines

Major Rudolf Bunao said pursuing soldiers clashed Wednesday with 90 Abu Sayyaf extremists in the jungles of Indanan town on Jolo island, Sulu province, 1,000 kilometres south of Manila, leaving three rebels dead. Bunao, a spokesman for the military and police task force conducting the operation against the extremists, said a soldier was wounded in the fierce gunbattle which lasted for about two hours. "The guerrillas split into smaller groups and retreated to the jungle and soldiers recovered automatic rifles and a passport of a man," he said. Bunao, however, admitted that despite intensified operations, troops still don't have a clue on the exact whereabouts of two remaining hostages - American Jeffrey Schilling and Filipino dive instructor Roland Ullah. "We will not stop until we recover the hostages and neutralize the Abu Sayyaf," he said. On Wednesday, government troops killed six Abu Sayyaf fighters in the nearby town of Talipao and wounded several other rebels.

The military said a total of 183 Abu Sayyaf rebels have been killed since a major operation to rescue the hostages was launched on September 16. Eight soldiers and paramilitary troops have been killed in the operations. On Tuesday, Schilling told a local radio station in nearby Zamboanga City that he was suffering from various ailments and coughing blood. He urged the government to restart negotiations which were stalled at the start of the military blitz. "I am not very well," he told radio station DXRZ. "I have an infection on a leg and it is swollen. I don't know how long I can hold on for the negotiation process. I hope the Philippine government will start negotiations again soon." The military has not heard from Ullah, believed to be held by another Abu Sayyaf faction in nearby Patikul town.

Since the assault started, government troops have recovered 17 hostages - two crew of a French television company, 12 Filipino Christian evangelists and three Malaysians abducted from Pandanan island off Borneo. The crisis started in April when the Abu Sayyaf seized 21 people from seven countries from Malaysia's Sipadan island. All, but Ullah, have since been freed in exchange for an estimated 17.5 million dollars in ransom.

(sda)