JOLO, Philippines (28 August 2000) -- South African Carel Strydom has walked out of the jungle in the southern Philippines and will join his wife Monique who was freed along with four other hostages yesterday. The Strydoms were among 21 dive tourists and hotel staff who were abducted at gunpoint at a Sipadan Island diving resort on April 23. Seven hostages remain captive including two Finns, one German, three Frenchmen and a one Filipino. Another 12 Filipino evangelists are also at the rebel camp but it is not clear if they are being held against their will. The six freed hostages will be flown to Libya before returning home as part of a deal initiated by Libya. According to unofficial reports, Libya paid US$1m for the release of each of the remaining hostages. © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORK | 
