Philippine military rescues Malaysian hostages

Three Malaysian hostages held by Muslim rebels on a southern Philippine island were rescued after a clash today between their captors and military troops in a mangrove swamp, officials said.

Three Malaysian hostages held by Muslim rebels on a southern Philippine island were rescued after a clash today between their captors and military troops in a mangrove swamp, officials said.

The rescue of the Malaysians leaves only an American and a Filipino still in the hands of the Abu Sayyaf rebels, who have seized scores of hostages in various kidnappings this year.

Malaysian Ambassador Manzoor Hussein Arshad said the Philippine military had informed him that the three Malaysians had been rescued on southern Jolo island.

Military officials said the Malaysians were rescued after troops raided a mangrove area and clashed for nearly an hour with the rebels.

The fighting continued after the Malaysians were rescued, but there was no immediate report on casualties, they said.

On Tuesday, one rebel commander and 18 followers surrendered to the military on Jolo, bringing to 110 the number of Abu Sayyaf guerrillas who have given up since the military launched a rescue operation Sept. 16 to free an initial 19 hostages, said Col. Hilario Atendido, spokesman for the military's Southern Command.

"These people are tired of running away from pursuing troops. They are hungry and scared and admitted they could no longer stand the pressure of the government offensive," Atendido said.

Military chief of staff Gen. Angelo Reyes said Tuesday he plans to pull out some of the 5,000 troops deployed on Jolo because the situation there has stabilized following the recovery of 14 of the hostages.

The Abu Sayyaf fighters told the military that they were recruited by a rebel leader and paid 4,000 pesos (dlrs 80) each to fight the government forces on Jolo, about 950 kilometers (595 miles) south of Manila.

Atendido said those who surrendered admitted the Abu Sayyaf was running low on food and ammunition.

"We have been pursuing them everywhere ... and we will not stop until they are neutralized and the captives recovered safely," Atendido said.

Army Lt. Abdurasad Serajad, who leads a military team consisting of former Muslim separatist rebels, said villagers and intercepted radio messages indicate that American Jeffrey Schilling is being moved among various Abu Sayyaf hide-outs in the towns of Patikul and Panamao. There is no word of the Filipino captive, he said.

The military said 136 rebels and five soldiers have died in 76 encounters since the rescue began. In addition, 124 rebels have been captured, the military said.

The Abu Sayyaf says it is fighting for an independent Islamic state in the southern Philippines, but the military regards it as a bandit gang.