Jolo rebels 'seek talks'

Philippine F5 fighter planes take off to join the raids

Philippines rebels, hit by an all-out military assault on the southern island of Jolo, are seeking renewed talks according to the Philippines authorities.

Enough is enough - we cannot allow the kidnappers to mock our laws and control our land

President Estrada

Since dawn the Abu Sayyaf rebel group, which is holding more than 20 hostages, have faced waves of attacks by helicopters and fighter planes, followed by a ground force of thousands of troops with armoured vehicles.

The French news agency AFP reported that the Abu Sayyaf leader, known as Commander Robot, made the offer to reopen negotiations on condition that the military halt its offensive. He did not mention the condition of the hostages.

Commander Robot has reportedly called fro talks

There has been no official response but the chief government negotiator reportedly said there was little he could do because his team had been considered disbanded since President Joseph Estrada ordered the assault.

Residents fleeing the area around the rebels' jungle stronghold told Reuters news agency that scores of people had been killed and injured and that fighting was raging around the jungle strongholds of the Abu Sayyaf rebels.

Defence Minister Orlando Mercado told the BBC's Newshour programme he could neither confirm or deny reports of civilian casualties, but said troops had captured 18 suspected Abu Sayyaf members.

Several hours after the raid began, President Estrada's office said troops had reached the rebel camps and the rescue operation was nearing its conclusion.

Earlier, in a sombre address to the nation, Mr Estrada said he was aware of the grave risk posed to the hostages but he had no choice but to act decisively.

President Estrada: "Aware of grave risks to hostages and soldiers"

"Enough is enough," he said. "We cannot allow the kidnappers to mock our laws and control our land."

French President Jacques Chirac - concerned at the fate of two French hostages - criticised the assault and said he held the Philippines responsible for the men's safety.

Malaysia also expressed concern over the fate of its citizens being held hostage, but said it was the Philippines' prerogative to launch attacks on those causing "chaos".

But former hostage Stephane Loisy expressed his revulsion on Saturday at the army's actions, saying they had broken their word to the rebels.

"I am disgusted ... I have heard about everything which happened and I felt sick, I felt sick to see this," he said.

Mr Loisy, who was held by the Abu Sayyaf group for for five months untiil his release on 9 September, said he had been well treated by the rebels during their captivity and they deserved to escape from harm.

As well as the two Frenchmen - both television journalists - the hostages include:

• Twelve Filipino Christians, led by a television evangelist, seized after going to pray with the original hostages.
• A diving instructor seized with original group on April 23.
• Three Filipino women taken as "brides" for Abu Sayyaf members.
• One US tourist.
• Three Malaysians captured on September 10.

Government representatives have spent five months negotiating with the Abu Sayyaf rebels, who are fighting for a separate Muslim state in the south.

Jolo hostage crisis

April 23 - Rebels seize 21 hostages in Malaysia, take them to Jolo

June 24 - First hostage freed

July 1 - Christians seized after going to pray for captives

August 27 - More hostages freed after Libya joins talks

September 9 - Last Europeans seized in Malaysia set free

September 10 - More hostages taken in Malaysia

A naval blockade has been imposed around Jolo, and low-flying military planes were seen passing over Zamboanga, the nerve-centre of the southern Philippines military command, about 150 km (93 miles) north-east of Jolo.

The BBC correspondent in Manila, John McLean, says the government is clearly trying to hit the rebels as hard as it can, but the terrain is hostile to outsiders and the millions of dollars which the kidnappers have received have allowed them to buy new weapons.

The rebels' strength is estimated to have grown from several hundred a few months ago to thousands now.

TV evangelist Wilde Almeda had gone to pray

Before the attacks, Philippine negotiators said that the rebels had tentatively agreed to release the two French hostages on Saturday.

The rebels released four European hostages on 9 September after holding them for 20 weeks.

However, shortly after they were freed, they seized the three Malaysians from the diving resort of Pandanan, and took them to Jolo.

Our correspondent says this appears to have been the last straw for the government and that subsequent negotiations were just a bluff.