Philippines criticises Malaysia over hostage meeting

Senior Philippine officials have criticised the Malaysian ambassador to Manila for meeting the Muslim extremists holding twenty-one mainly foreign hostages on the southern Philippine island of Jolo.

President Joseph Estrada's executive secretary, Ronaldo Zamora, said the meeting on Thursday between the ambassador Mohamad Arshad Manzoor Hussain and the Abu Sayyaf rebels could have jeopardised the Philippine government¿s own negotiations.

The head of the Philippine negotiating team, Roberto Aventajado denied Malaysia¿s assertion that Manila had sanctioned the ambassador's mission.

The hostages -- almost half of whom are Malaysians -- were abducted from a Malaysian resort by the rebels four weeks ago.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service