Rebels to discuss sick hostage

Aventajado called for written demands from the rebels

Filipino guerrillas holding 21 hostages have agreed to make the release of a sick German captive the first topic of negotiations.

Abu Escobar, a spokesperson for the Abu Sayyaf guerrillas, told the Associated Press that they were open to discuss the case of Renate Wallert but her speedy release would depend on the government meeting certain conditions.

He added that rebel leaders were still hammering out those conditions.

The hostages were kidnapped on 23 April by Abu Sayyaf rebels from the Malaysian resort of Sipadan and brought to Jolo island in the Philippines by speedboat.

Estrada ignored criticism that he was leaving the country amid a crisis

Chief negotiator Robert Aventajado said a written list of rebel demands for the release of the hostages was expected on Wednesday, when formal negotiations begin.

"We hope they will give us their demands in written form because there are so many demands flying around that we cannot determine which is the real demand," he said.

Mr Aventajado has warned there could be months of tough bargaining ahead.

President Eric Estrada has named Mr Aventajado as chief negotiator - the third person to be take on the role in the three-week crisis.

Mr Estrada expressed confidence that Mr Aventajado's team could make some headway.

"I am confident that we shall have a satisfactory resolution soon," said Mr Estrada, who left Manila for a five-day trip to China on Tuesday despite criticism that he was leaving amid a crisis.

Demands

The initial demands made informally by rebels include a stop to all operations by the military in the provinces where hostages are being held.

The guerrillas have also asked to meet the armed forces chief of staff and the national police chief.

The rebels have called for the military to withdraw from the area

The government has agreed that troops should keep away from the area of the talks but ruled out some demands, such as the creation of an Islamic state and the establishment of Islamic law in the largely Muslim south.

It is unclear whether the rebels are also demanding a ransom.

Some reports have said the rebels had asked for up to 70,000 pesos ($1,690) for each hostage.

Phoning home

The hostages were able to phone home on Tuesday when a journalist brought a satellite phone to the rebel camp.

"They were very happy. They said it was the most beautiful gift we gave them," said Franck Berruier of Europe One radio, who lent them the phone.

He said the hostages looked weak and asked for medicine.

The journalists stumbled onto the rebel camp when driving in the town of Patikul. Their car was stopped by armed men, who then accompanied them to the rebel hideout.

"They are saying that they don't really want ransom for these people," said Kjerspi Strommen of Norwegian Broadcasting. "They want attention for their cause... independence for Mindanao."

They're fed up with all this, fed up, really exhausted, mentally exhausted

French journalist Michel Scott

Mindanao is the poorest region in the country.

Jerome Fritel, who writes for France Soir, added that the rebels did not trust the government. "They want international mediation," he said.

He added Mrs Wallert appeared to be in "bad condition". "She can't walk very well," he said.

Depressed

French journalists who interviewed the hostages at the weekend said Mrs Wallert was lying in a hammock, mumbling incoherently.

Renate Wallert has hypertension

"The German woman is very bad, very ill... She's been having nightmares," said journalist Florence Compain of the French newspaper Le Figaro.

"When she wakes up, she starts crying. They were all very depressed."

French television journalist Michel Scott, who interviewed two rebel leaders, warned there had been no indication the hostages would be released soon.

Presidential spokesman Ricardo Puno has acknowledged the rebels are in a strong negotiating position.