Philippine Military Rebuffs Rebel Threat to Kill Couple

The Philippine military said Monday that it would not halt an offensive against Muslim extremists who threatened to behead an American couple if the army does not stop.

Abu Sabaya, a leader of the Abu Sayyaf rebels in the southern Philippines, threatened to kill missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham of Wichita, Kan., ahead of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s Nov. 20 trip to meet with President Bush.

“It would be very embarrassing if President Arroyo goes to the U.S. with the bodies of Martin and Gracia,” Sabaya told the Radio Mindanao network by telephone.

The Abu Sayyaf, thought to number 1,000 fighters, has suspected links to Osama bin Laden. The group holds the two Americans and at least 10 Filipinos.

In rejecting Sabaya’s demand that the offensive be halted, military spokesman Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan said, “Now that we have them cornered and their end is near, under no conditions are we going to stop our military operations.”

“Our desire is to conduct a safe rescue of the hostages and destroy the Abu Sayyaf,” he said. “They want the government to kneel, but that will not happen.”