Canadian hostage freed in Philippines

Mr Belanger celebrated his release with President Arroya

Officials in the Philippines say troops and police have freed a Canadian held for ransom for over six weeks.

They rescued the man, Pierre Belanger, after a gunfight which left two of his alleged kidnappers dead.

The government says there were no casualties among its own forces in the clash on Mindanao Island in the south of the country.

Mrs Belanger was on hand to greet her husband

The regional police director identified Mr Belanger's abductors as an Islamic rebel group called the Pentagon, which is still holding an Italian priest, Giuseppe Pierantoni, seized in October.

"The victim was rescued around 0100 today (1700 GMT Saturday). The rescue was conducted by combined elements of police and the military under the national anti-kidnapping task force," said Lt General Roy Cimatu in the southern city of Zamboanga.

He said that Mr Belanger was "fine but very haggard" on his release.

He said more details about the mission to free Mr Belanger would be given later on Sunday.

Abu Sayyaf claim

Mr Belanger, 50, was married to a Filipino woman.

He went missing on 3 November, and a five million peso ($96,000) ransom was demanded for his release.

The Burnhams have been held by Abu Sayyaf since May

The anonymous telephone caller who made the ransom demand said that Mr Belanger had been kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf, a group which the United States believes is linked to Osama Bin Laden.

But the Philippines military said they did not believe that Abu Sayyaf was behind the kidnapping.

Abu Sayyaf are continuing to hold two American missionaries, Martin and Gracia Burnham.