Muslim Rebels Release 4 Hostages

J O L O, Philippines, Sept. 9 -- Muslim rebels today released fourEuropeans from four months of captivity in a southern Philippinejungle, negotiators said.

The Abu Sayyaf rebels, who say they are fighting for anindependent Islamic state in the mostly Roman Catholic Philippines,turned over the hostages to the go-betweens at their camp on Joloisland, the negotiators said.

Military helicopters lifted the four hostages and thego-betweens out of the jungles of southern Jolo island.

Military helicopters lifted them out of the remote jungle campand carried them to Zamboanga city. The gaunt, bearded hostagesbeamed as they arrived.

“We were not sure at all of being released today,” saidStephane Loisy of France. “We heard the shooting where we werelocated. And suddenly we were taken in a car and we were actuallyfreed.”

The youngest hostage, German Marc Wallert, 27, raised both armsas he stepped down.

“It feels great of course,” said Wallert, whose mother andfather were released earlier.

Besides Loisy and Wallert, Finns Risto Vahanen and Seppo JuhaniFranti were released today. All were kidnapped April 23 fromMalaysia’s Sipadan diving resort.

Headed for Tripoli

Chief government negotiator Robert Aventajado said the former hostages would be presented to their ambassadors innearby Zamboanga. After spending the night in the Philippines, theywould fly to Tripoli aboard a Libyan plane, he said.

Two French television journalists and 12 Filipino Christianevangelists seized in early July when they visited the camp werenot freed, Aventajado said.

The release was threatened earlier today when the twogo-betweens were ambushed as they traveled to the camp. One oftheir bodyguards was killed and five others were wounded,government negotiators said. Many civilians were also injured, theysaid.

The go-betweens, who were not hurt, were being escorted byGhalib “Robot” Andang, the leader of the Abu Sayyaf factionholding the hostages, when they were attacked by another guerrillafaction, Aventajado said.