Abu Sayyaf Willing to Release Female American Hostage: Report

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, May 15, 2002

Abu Sayyaf Willing to Release Female American Hostage: Report

The Abu Sayyaf kidnap-for-ransom group in the southern Philippines is reportedly willing to release an American hostage anytime soon, the Philippine News Agency reported on Wednesday.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

The Abu Sayyaf kidnap-for-ransom group in the southern Philippines is reportedly willing to release an American hostage anytime soon, the Philippine News Agency reported on Wednesday.

Abu Sayyaf sub-commander Isnilon Japilon was quoted as saying that Gracia Burnham, the female hostage, is ailing and has become a drag in his group's constant run from one hideout to another to evade pursuing military troops.

This echoes early reports that the bandits may release Gracia due to her deteriorating health condition. She has reportedly been suffering from urinary infection while her husband has symptoms of malaria.

Philippine nurse Ediborah Yap, the third hostage, has likewise been a burden of the kidnappers, but Japilon chose to keep her for personal reasons.

The report also quoted an informant as saying that Abu Sayyaf leader Khadaffy Janjalani who had earlier handed the Burnhams over to Japilon supported the imminent release of Gracia.

A team of covert negotiators working for the freedom of the Burnhams still presses for the early release of all the hostages. It has sent medicines, food packs, drinking water, sweat shirts and personal care items to the hostages.

Earlier reports said the bandits are hiding with their hostages in the jungles on Basilan island in the south, but a separate report on Wednesday quoted a local official as saying that Japilon has slipped out of Basilan, and is now hiding somewhere in Zamboanga city not far from Basilan.

About 1,000 U.S. soldiers are in the southern Philippines helping thousands of local troops wipe out the Abu Sayyaf group which is allegedly linked to the al-Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden, the suspected mastermind of the September 11 attacks on the United States.

Questions?Comments? Click here

FM Spokesman on Consulate Intrusion Accident ( 23 Messages)

EP Always Picks on China with Cynical Remarks ( 19 Messages)

Harvard Project in China Violates Farmers' Rights ( 27 Messages)

Desertification Threat Advancing on Beijing ( 11 Messages)

Spirit of May 4 Movement Still Inspires Chinese Youth ( 68 Messages)

FM Spokesman on Anti-China Items In U.S. Defense Bill ( 55 Messages)

China to Launch First Space Solar Telescope in 2005 ( 13 Messages)

China Is Among Countries with Wide Income Gap ( 35 Messages)