Rebels Are Said to Mull Plea to Free Ill Hostages

Muslim rebels holding 21 Western and Asian hostages at a Philippine jungle hide-out said Wednesday that they would reply within 24 hours to appeals that two ailing captives be released, officials said.

Meanwhile, Philippine troops pulled back their cordon around the rebels’ hide-out, moving to the base of the mountain on remote Jolo island, an army spokesman, Lt. Abe Sarajian, said Wednesday. He gave no reason for the pullback.

The move came after a Libyan envoy, Rajab Azzarouk, met with the Abu Sayyaf rebels. Azzarouk, who has extensive personal contacts among Muslims in the troubled southern region of Mindanao, said the rebels have made some political demands. He did not elaborate.

He said he asked the rebels to free two ailing hostages: a German woman who, her family says, has suffered two strokes and a Frenchman with a urinary tract infection. The rebels promised a response within a day.

The hostages--believed to be three Germans, two French, two South Africans, two Finns, a Lebanese, 10 Malaysians and a Filipina--were snatched from a diving resort on the Malaysian island of Sipadan on April 23 and taken to Jolo, an hour’s boat ride away.

Nelsa Amin, a doctor who accompanied Azzarouk, said she provided the group with medicine, food, clothing and two stretchers.