Philippines says Libya can pull out of hostage
crisis talks
MANILA, Aug 20 (AFP) - The
Philippine government has dismissed a threat by Libya to withdraw from mediating in a
four-month long hostage crisis, saying they can pull out anytime they wish, chief
negotiator Roberto Aventajado told AFP Sunday.
"This offer was made
voluntarily, they can withdraw their help anytime they wish," Aventajado said by
telephone from Zamboanga city near Jolo island where the hostages are being held.
The Kadhafi Charity
Organisation, led by a son of Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi, issued a 48-hour ultimatum to
Manila after the Abu Sayyaf Muslim extremist group holding 28 hostages in the southern
Philippines abruptly cancelled a planned release on Saturday.
The charity warned in a
statement that "after leading the last attempt with the Philippines government, if
there is no positive and concrete development in the next 48 hours, it will pull out of
negotiations (with the kidnappers)."
Any withdrawal will also
concern the group's "officials present in the Philippines since the beginning of the
crisis, its plane and the medical team in place for more than a week" to bring the
hostages to Tripoli after their release, the statement said.
Back to Sipadan Hostages News
Back
to This Week's Borneo News |
