American Hostages Describe Ordeal on Video
An American missionary couple who have been held hostage by Muslim guerrillas since May appeared on a videotape aired on a local Philippine cable channel, describing their six-month ordeal and their hope to return home to their three children.
Gracia and Martin Burnham said they have developed mouth sores from lack of nutrients, relying on scarce supplies of cassava and bananas.
More than 7,000 soldiers, backed by U.S. equipment and training, have been deployed on the southern island of Basilan to rescue the Kansas couple from Abu Sayyaf rebels.
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