Government troops kill six hostage-takers in southern Philippines

Major General Narciso Abaya said fierce fighting erupted early on Tuesday when pursuing soldiers caught up with 25 Abu Sayyaf rebels in the jungles of Talipao town on Jolo island, Sulu province, 1,000 kilometres south of Manila.

"Three bandits were immediately killed and many others wounded in the first encounter," said Abaya, who leads the government troops pursuing the rebels.

"Blocking troops were immediately mobilised and encountered the fleeing bandits 20 minutes later, resulting in the deaths of three more rebels," he added.

Abaya, however, admitted that soldiers failed to recover the two remaining hostages - American Jeffrey Schilling and Filipino dive instructor Roland Ullah - during the firefight.

The military said some 180 Abu Sayyaf rebels had 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 ongoing operations.

On Tuesday, Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Sabaya Salayuddin called a radio station in nearby Zamboanga City to allow Schilling, who was abducted in August, to air his appeal to the Philippine government.

Schilling, who said he was suffering from various ailments, coughing blood and an infection on a leg, urged the government to re-start negotiations for his release. The talks were called off due to the military operation.

"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."

Sabaya said he has not heard anything about 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.

(la/dpa)