| Some Philippine hostages may be
freed next week ZAMBOANGA, Philippines, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Moslem rebels in the southern
Philippines may release some hostages next week from among a group they kidnapped more
than three months ago, government officials and police sources said on Saturday.
Chief government negotiator
Robert Aventajado told reporters in the city of Zamboanga that three Malaysian hostages
could be released "either on Monday or Tuesday".
On Jolo, the remote southern
island where the hostages are being held, police sources said the Abu Sayyaf rebels and
government negotiators had concluded talks on the release of the Malaysian hostages as
well as two South African captives.
They said also the rebels had
strewn home-made landmines along the approaches to their camp in the hills of Jolo, 960 km
(600 miles) south of Manila, to prevent any armed rescue.
The rebels kidnapped 21 people
from a Malaysian resort island on April 23 and spirited them away to Jolo, where they have
hideouts in the hills. They have since released six Malaysians and a German woman.
But they still hold three more
Malaysians, two other Germans, three French including a Lebanese-born woman who was
granted French citizenship during captivity, two Finns, two South Africans and two
Filipinos.
Six journalists covering the
saga have also been kidnapped and three of them, a German and a Filipino couple, have been
released. The rebels are still holding a three-member French television crew.
The rebels are also holding 13
Filipino evangelists who had gone to the guerrilla camp to pray for the hostages.
Aventajado flew to Zamboanga to
meet Malaysian officials who have been pressing for the release of their compatriots.
Zamboanga, the nearest big city, is 150 km (100 miles) to the northeast of Jolo.
Aventajado said rebel chief
Galib Andang "was telling me they are ready to release everybody so they are just
waiting for our move".
"I said: 'You know I am
still putting everything together.' Once I have done that we can expect releases
quickly."
Aventajado has said Andang
communicates directly with him using a satellite phone belonging to the French TV crew.
Local officials have said large
ransoms have been paid for those released and negotiations now going on are in the range
of about $1 million for each of the Caucasian hostages and about $350,000 for each of the
others.
The Philippine government and
other governments whose nationals are involved have denied any money has been paid.
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