Muslim rebels release hostage

Chief Negotiator, Robert Aventajado briefs foreign ministers in Manila

Rebel sources say that they have released one of the 40 hostages being held in the southern Philippines.

Muslim extremists say one of the eight Malaysian hostages, identified as Abdul Jawan Selamat, was set free on Friday after nearly four months in captivity.

Government soldiers in Jolo have been keeping a low profile

The rebels released another Malaysian hostage, Zulkarnain Hashim, in June, saying he was the most religious among the captives.

The mental condition of the remaining hostages is said to be worsening, according to a letter released by the Finnish foreign minister, Errki Tuomioja.

Suicide risk

Mr Tuomioja, who has met his German and French counterparts in Manila in an attempt to solve the long-running hostage crisis, released the letter written earlier this week by Finnish hostage Risto Vahanen.

"Our mental condition is getting worse every day and it is not far from one of us committing suicide in the nearest future," Risto Vahanen wrote on behalf of the white captives.

"Please do your utmost to get us out of these inhuman conditions without delay, peacefully, without force," he said.

Two French hostages comfort each other

Mr Tuomioja, France's Hubert Vedrine and Germany's Joschka Fischer declined to provide details of their discussions in Manila or to specify any new initiative to end the saga.

The second hostage to be released is now thought to be in the city of Zamboanga.

He is likely to meet chief negotiator Robert Aventajado later on Friday or Saturday, rebel sources said.

Long captivity

Abu Sayyaf rebels kidnapped 21 hostages from a Malaysian diving resort on 23 April and brought them to their hideout on Jolo island, 960 km (600 miles), south of Manila.

The white hostages are being held separately from the Asian captives.

This month the rebels kidnapped a German magazine reporter, three members of a French television crew and 13 Filipino evangelists.