Abu Sayyaf Blamed for Scuttling Deal
The father of a kidnapped American missionary Thursday accused the Muslim extremist group Abu Sayyaf of reneging on an agreement to free his son and daughter-in-law.
Paul Burnham called Radio Mindanao Network in the southern Philippines from his home in Wichita, Kan., saying the Abu Sayyaf had added unspecified conditions to the deal, which he said was finalized in March and was to include the release of Filipina nurse Deborah Yap.
Missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham, also of Wichita, and Yap are the last hostages held from an Abu Sayyaf kidnapping spree. Some captives have been beheaded, including Guillermo Sobero, a Californian.
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