LAMITAN, Philippines (4 June 2001) -- Civilian officials have criticized the military for allowing Abu Sayyaf bandits to break through an army cordon in the town of Lamitan on Basilan Island in the southern Philippines. Nine Filipino captives escaped during the fighting in Lamitan but the Abu Sayyaf killed two hostages and took many more from a hospital where they were surrounded by government troops. Military officials said 12 soldiers, including an army captain, were killed and many others wounded in the failed siege. Twenty-two soldiers have been killed since the Abu Sayyaf stormed into the Dos Palmas luxury resort off the island of Palawan in the southwestern Philippines and kidnapped 20 Filipino and America tourists. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has refused to negotiate for the release of the hostages and has vowed to fight the rebels and has warned the Abu Sayyaf to give themselves up or be killed. | | Abu Sayyaf "We will finish off all the bandits if they don't surrender at the earliest possible time," President Arroyo said. "To the Abu Sayyaf: You have nowhere else to run." Last year, the Abu Sayyaf raked in millions of dollars in ransom payments after kidnapping dive tourists and hotel staff from Sipadan Island and Pandanan Island dive resorts in Malaysia. © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORK |
