Release of Sipadan Hostages Postponed AnewThe release of nine Western hostages held by Abu Sayyaf rebels in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, which was expected on Thursday, has been postponed anew due to bad weather in the southern island.Chief government negotiator Roberto Aventajado said in a statement that the delay has been caused by the stormy weather, making the transfer of hostages to the helicopter impossible. "The chopper can not take off at 3 p.m. because clouds are starting to close in at that time," Aventajado said. The release of nine Western hostages has been postponed since Wednesday, under a deal bankrolled by Libya. The nine hostages include two French, two Germans, two Finns, two South Africans and one Lebanese. They are among the 21 hostages taken by the Abu Sayyaf from the Sipadan Island diving resort in Malaysia on April 23. Of the 21 hostages, eight have been released so far, including six Malaysians, one German and one Filipino woman. A chartered plane from Libya arrived in Manila on Monday to fetch the nine Western hostages. The plane will take the western hostages to Libya, from where they will travel to their own countries. |
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