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Thursday, 15 November, 2001, 12:32 GMT
Philippines hostages 'suffering'
![]() The rebels say they want a separate Muslim state
Two American Christian missionaries held in the Philippines by the Abu Sayyaf Islamic separatist group are suffering after nearly six months in the jungle, freed hostages have said.
Military officials say three of the hostages were rescued in an operation on the southern Basilan island, while four others were later recovered from another part of the island.
Two of those freed were among 20 people, including the Burnhams, who were kidnapped on 27 May. Most were freed by the rebels after alleged ransom payments - but the group seized more Filipino hostages, including the nurse, in Lamitan town on Basilan on 2 June. 'Always crying' The woman who carried the Burnhams' letter said the Americans were exhausted after being taken from one hideout to another by the kidnappers.
Gracia Burnham was "always crying," said the second hostage Maria Fe Rosadeno. The two women said they had lived off root crops, vegetables and bananas, while the kidnappers fought off the military in running gun battles that sometimes lasted for days. Military battle Military southern command chief Lieutenant General Roy Cimatu said troops were continuing their campaign against the Abu Sayyaf. "We are very close to recovering the Americans," he said.
They have killed more than a dozen Filipino hostages. The United States has linked Abu Sayyaf to Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network and has promised to increase military assistance to help Manila combat the group. On Wednesday, the US military commander for the Pacific, Admiral Dennis Blair, visited the military command in the south to personally offer advice.
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