US Hostage Killed, Wife Freed in Rescue in Philippines

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, June 07, 2002

US Hostage Killed, Wife Freed in Rescue in Philippines

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American hostage Martin Burnham and Filipino nurse Ediborah Yap were killed during an encounter in the southern Philippine city of Zamboanga between the government troops and the kidnappers, the ABS-CBN news channel reported Friday.

The other hostage in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf bandits, Martin's wife Gracia was rescued but injured. She has been sent to hospital.

The encounter occurred in 2:30 p.m. (GMT 0630, Thursday) and is still going on, the report said.

It was surprised that the hostages had been transferred to Zamboanga from the southern island of Basilan, it added.

At least seven soldiers were also killed during the encounter. There were no U.S. troops involved in the fighting.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo released a statement after being aware of the news, saying she was deeply saddened over the death of Martin and Ediborah.

"I commiserate with the Burnham and Yap families. This has been a long and painful trial for them, for our government, for our country...Gracia is safe, this is our blessing. I pray for her

early recovery.

"The terrorists shall not be allowed to get away with this. We shall not stop until the Abu Sayyaf is finished," Arroyo also said.

Martin and Gracia Burnham were kidnapped from a western Philippine resort on May 27, 2001. Ediborah was kidnapped from a hospital in Basilan after the Abu Sayyaf transferred the 16 tourists they kidnapped including the Burnhams there.

Thousands of Philippine government troops have been pursuing the kidnappers in jungles of the southern island of Basilan since then.

About 1,000 U.S. troops are in Basilan and Zamboanga to train the Filipino soldiers fighting against the Abu Sayyaf.

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