JOLO, Philippines (23 July 2000) -- Ransom payments totaling from $3-4m have secured the release of several hostages abducted from Sipadan Island three months ago. Abu Sayyaf Muslim bandits have released six of nine Malaysians in exchange for payments exceeding $3m. German national, Renate Wallert, was also freed in exchange for $890,000. Of the original group of 21 hostages abducted from Sipadan, 14 remain captive including three Malaysians, two Germans, two Finns, three French, two South Africans and two Filipinos. Since the Sipadan abductions on April 23, Abu Sayyaf bandits have taken 17 more hostages including a German journalist, a three-person French TV crew and a group of 13 Filipino Christian evangelists. Negotiations for the release of the remaining 31 hostages have been complicated by squabbling among the bandits over sharing the huge ransom payments. © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORK | 
