Manila Welcomes Release of 4 European Hostages

The Philippine government welcomed Saturday the release of four European hostages by the Abu Sayyaf, but expressed concern for the safety of one Filipino and two French journalists still held by the rebel group.

"We are pleased that the four hostages were freed. But we are concerned about the remaining captives. We are hopeful they will be released soon," Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ricardo uno said in a terse statement.

The four Europeans freed Saturday afternoon -- two Finns, one French and one German -- were among the original group of 21 hostages seized by the Abu Sayyaf on Malaysia's resort island of Sipadan on April 23 and later brought to the southern Philippine island of Jolo, Sulu province.

But the Abu Sayyaf left behind one Filipino, the last remaining hostage of the Sipadan group, and two French TV journalists abducted in Jolo in July while covering the hostage crisis.

Chief government negotiator Robert Aventajado said in the southern city of Zmboanga after securing the release of the four Europeans that he would communicate with the Abu Sayyaf Saturday night over the release of the Filipino and the two French

journalists.

Aventajado, together with Libyan envoy Rajab Azzarouq, escorted the four Europeans from Jolo to Zamboanga and turned them over to the ambassadors of their respective countries.

The four were later flown to the central city of Cebu, where they would stay overnight before flying to Libya on Sunday.

Fighting broke out Saturday morning in Jolo between one faction of the Abu Sayaf led by Ghlib Andang, better known as Commander Robot, and Mujib Susukan and another faction led by Abu Sabar and a certain Commander Randy over whether to release four or all the six European hostages.

The faction of Commander Robot reportedly wanted to free only the four Europeans of the Sipadan group it held while the faction of Abu Sabar wanted the two French journalists in its hands to be released together with the four.

A team of government negotiators going to Jolo to secure the release of the hostages was caught in the cross-fire of the factional fighting, which killed one bodyguard of the negotiating team and wounded five others.



People's Daily Online --- http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/