Philippine Rebels Say 2 Hostages Slain
Muslim extremists said Wednesday that they had beheaded two hostages because the government has ignored their demands, including the release of Islamic terrorists imprisoned in the United States.
Abu Ahmad, spokesman for the Abu Sayyaf group fighting for independence in the southern Philippines, said two teachers who were among 29 hostages were beheaded Wednesday in Basilan province. He confirmed the executions in a radio interview.
He said the group will execute more male captives for every “negative statement” from President Joseph Estrada or the police.
Presidential spokesman Ricardo Puno condemned the killings. “We strongly deplore this act as particularly heinous and ill-timed,” he said, referring to the start of the Easter holiday in this predominantly Roman Catholic nation.
Ahmad said that the government failed to deliver rice and diesel fuel and that Estrada had made no statement that he would talk to U.S. officials about the group’s demands.
On Tuesday, National Security Advisor Alexander Aguirre said hostage negotiators had been told to reject the rebels’ demands, including the release of Ramzi Ahmed Yousef, mastermind of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing in New York, and co-conspirator Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman.
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