Six Freed Philippines Hostages Head for LibyaSix Western hostages released by Muslim rebels in the Philippines left on a plane to Libya on Tuesday after an overnight stopover in the United Arab Emirates, an airport official said.The hostages, who had left the Philippines Monday, were due to be handed over to senior representatives of their governments at a ceremony in Libya after being presented to the country's leader, Muammar Gaddafi. Libya played a major role in negotiations for the hostages' release. The plane carrying the freed hostages -- two South Africans, three Frenchwomen and a German -- was due in Tripoli at 4:50 a.m. EDT, the airport official said. Five of them were released Sunday and the sixth walked free Monday. They were forced to leave behind seven other hostages with the Abu Sayyaf rebels on the island of Jolo. |
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