Rebels Threaten More Killings in Philippines

M A N I L A, Philippines, June 25 -- A Muslim extremist leader responsiblefor the abduction of dozens of hostages threatened Monday to killmore of his captives if the Philippine government doesn't accepthis choice of negotiators.

Speaking by satellite telephone from the jungles of Basilanisland in the south, Abu Sabaya told The Associated Press he willonly issue a list of demands once a former Malaysian senator, aMalaysian businessman and a Filipino official are brought in tomediate. All three were involved in a hostage crisis last year involvingSabaya's group, the Abu Sayyaf, that ended with the reportedpayment of millions of dollars in ransoms. Sabaya earlier demanded the two Malaysians get involved, and hadthreatened to kill Guillermo Sobero of Corona, Calif., otherwise.Faced with a Sabaya-imposed deadline two weeks ago, the governmentagreed to allow one — but Sabaya claimed he killed Sobero the nextday after troops clashed with his men.

Warns of More Beheadings

On Monday, he warned of more beheadings, including that ofMartin Burnham, who is being held with wife Gracia, both 41, ofWichita, Kan. Sabaya claimed the beheadings could spread the Musliminsurgency under way in the southern Philippines to Malaysia andbeyond. "I'm saying our demand is not money," Sabaya said. "If wechop off the heads of people like Mr. Burnham, the Americans wouldintervene, and so would the Arabs and (Osama) bin Laden's groups.What will happen then to the Philippines?" The Philippine government has said the Abu Sayyaf gets at leastsome backing from Osama bin Laden, the wealthy Saudi accused ofmasterminding terrorist attacks. "The main reason here is freedom. Our other demands we willdisclose through the negotiators," Sabaya said. "If it was only for money, we made money from Sipadan," headded, referring to the abduction 21 people, including 10foreigners, from a Malaysian dive resort in April 2000. "Ourprinciples are more expensive."

Families as Weakness?