Abu Sayyaf Takes Eight Hostages in Southern Philippines: Report

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, August 21, 2002

Abu Sayyaf Takes Eight Hostages in Southern Philippines: Report

Eight Filipinos have been held hostage anew on the southern Philippine island of Jolo, which the local authority said on Wednesday it could be associated with the Abu Sayyaf kidnap-for-ransom group.

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Eight Filipinos have been held hostage anew on the southern Philippine island of Jolo, which the local authority said on Wednesday it could be associated with the Abu Sayyaf kidnap-for-ransom group.

Five women and three men, believed to be door-to-door pharmaceutical sales representatives, were taken away on Tuesday by armed men in Patikul town, the ABS-CBN news channel quoted vice town mayor Ismon Suhuri as saying, adding that the kidnappers were led by Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron.

Police chief Superintendent Ahiron Ajirim confirmed the kidnapping, stressing that only Sahiron's sect was known to operate in Patikul town. Jolo island is a major lair of the notorious extremist group.

The incident took place shortly after members of the PhilippineArmy earlier shelled a suspected hideout of the Abu Sayyaf group in the Patikul town. The local authority is still trying to establish the real identity of the kidnappers.

The incident, if true, would be the first attack of the bandit group after a six-month Philippine-US joint military exercise ended in the south on July 31. The war game was targeting at these bandits, and succeeded in recovering a female American hostage and killing Abu Sayyaf, spokesman and key leader of the group.

Philippine Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes made a phone call on Wednesday morning to the Armed Forces of the Philippines Southern Command in Zamboanga city to inquire about the incident. He said troops have been sent out to pursue the kidnappers.

The Abu Sayyaf is noted for their kidnapping activities against local Christians and foreigners. It was widely feared that the group would kidnap more hostages as human shields to deter military's pursuit operations.

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