Libyan mediators arrive in Philippine hostage
island
JOLO, Philippines, Aug 13 (AFP)
- An influential Libyan mediator returned to this southern Philippine island on Sunday
amid speculation the 17 mostly foreign hostages held by Muslim gunmen here were on the
verge of gaining freedom.
Rajab Azzarouq, Libya's retired
ambassador to Manila, flew in aboard a private jet with Mohamad Ismail, an official of an
aid foundation ran by Libyan leader Mohamer Khadafi's son.
They met with provincial
governor Abdusakur Tan of Jolo and members of the island's Muslim religious council, after
which Ismail abruptly left for Manila.
Ismail said Libya has lined up
livelihood projects and infrastructure programs for Jolo in exchange for the three
Malaysians, five French, a South African couple, two Filipinos, two Germans, two Finns and
a Franco-Lebanese woman held at gunpoint by the Abu Sayyaf group here.
"I cannot give you a
timetable. There is no ransom involved for their release, but livelihood projects. We are
still working for everybody's release," Ismail told reporters here before leaving.
Included in the aid package are
housing projects, Islamic schools, clinics and cultural centers to be set up in Jolo, one
of the country's poorest areas.
"It is Libya's support to
the Philippines and (funding for the projects) would be channeled through the
government," Ismail said.
Lebanese media last week
reported that Libya has offered to pay 25 million dollars for all the hostages, with
priority to be given to Franco-Lebanese hostage Marie-Michele Moarbes.
The reports had claimed that
the Libyan leader's son, Seif al-Islam, reportedly tapped Ismail as a special envoy to
work out the deal with the Abu Sayyaf rebels.
Shortly after that report came
out, Ismail arrived in Jolo last week, but said he only met with religious leaders to
discuss the aid package.
The reports have been denied by
Azzarouq and chief government negotiator Roberto Aventajado, who is due to arrive in
nearby Zamboanga city on Monday.
Earlier Sunday, a group of
Christian preachers who had prayed over the hostages and fasted 40 days at the Abu Sayyaf
camp aborted a planned trip out of the jungle lair after torrential rains caused
visibility problems.
A spokesman for the Jesus
Miracle Crusade Robert Chua said the preachers, led by veteran television evangelist Wilde
Almeda, were expected to walk free on Monday after receiving the green light from the Abu
Sayyaf.
Chua earlier said Almeda could
be allowed to bring with him nine western hostages, including Franco-Lebanese woman
Marie-Michele Moarbes, with two Filipino hostages as a "bonus."
"We believe he may be able
to bring down some hostages, with the Filipinos as bonus," Chua said.
A local politician who had
helped the preachers gain entry to the Abu Sayyaf camp on July 1 also met with Azzarouq
and Ismail on Sunday.
Almeda and 12 of his followers
entered the Abu Sayyaf camp in Talipao town after paying 3,000 dollars and dozens of sacks
of rice in what many considered a foolhardy attempt to secure the hostages' release.
The group had said they would
return to Jolo town only after fasting for 40 days and praying over the hostages, in a bid
to convince their abductors to free them.
Fourteen of the captives were
among an original group of 21 mostly foreign hostages seized by Abu Sayyaf gunmen from the
Malaysian border of Sipadan in April and taken across the border to Jolo island, while
three are French journalists taken hostage while covering the crisis.
Six Malaysians and a German
were earlier released, reportedly in exchange for huge ransoms, sources here said.
Sources said Abu Sayyaf leaders
Andang and Mujib Susukan agreed last week to accept the Libyan offer to end the
four-month-old hostage crisis.
Reports from Johannesburg
meanwhile said South African officials flew to Tripoli over the weekend to await for the
arrival of the hostages, who were to be flown aboard a 50-seater plane to Libya once
freed.
The Sunday Times said officials
from other countries involved have also gathered in Libya.
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