Philippines rules out ransom for hostages

Philippine authorities established contact for the first time yesterday with radical Islamic separatists holding 21 people captive on a remote southern island. They said that all of the hostages, including 10 foreign tourists, were safe.

But prospects of an early conclusion to the five-day hostage crisis, which began when the group was seized from a Malaysian resort island last weekend, look uncertain. The Philippine President, Joseph Estrada, ruled out paying a ransom, and a former rebel leader warned that negotiations to secure their release would be tough.

Military leaders are making contingency plans, amid warnings by Western governments to avoid any action that could jeopardise the safety of their nationals. News that the hostages are unharmed came from two emissaries sent to Jolo island by Nur Misauri, appointed the Philippine government's official negotiator. Mr Misauri, a former guerrilla chief himself, now a regional governor, said the pair had seen 17 of the 21 hostages, including "six white men".

"They said everyone is alive and kicking, and so there is nothing to worry about their health," he said. He also said that the emissaries had made contact with the gunmen. The group - 10 Malaysians, three Germans, two French nationals, two Finns, two South Africans, one Lebanese woman and a Filipina - are being held by rebels linked to Abu Sayyas, a guerrilla organisation waging an armed struggle for an independent Muslim state in the mainly Roman Catholic Philippines.

They are believed to have been taken by boat to Jolo, a predominantly Muslim island in the lawless and impoverished southern Sulu province, after being abducted at gunpoint from a resort on Sipadan Island, a world-renowned dive centre 20 miles off Malaysian Borneo.

Asked how confident he was of securing their release, Mr Misauri said: "It will take a lot of persuasion. That's why I am not promising a miracle at all. We should be prepared for any eventuality, because these people will cling to these hostages tooth and nail, I'm sure." The Malaysian Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamed, said his government was also willing to negotiate with the rebels. "We'll do anything to secure the release of the captives," he said.

Philippine troops have been searching Jolo for the hostages, but have so far ruled out launching a military assault that could endanger their lives. Military units have been deployed to deter the gunmen from moving them.

Lieutenant-General Jose Calimlim, the acting armed forces chief, said: "We have a military contingency. We are looking at an early solution of this problem. The military is ready to do its job to resolve this quickly."

The general added, though: "If it is too risky for the hostages, we will not do it. We will do it through negotiations."

Philippine troops have mounted an assault on the Abu Sayyas stronghold on Basilan, another island in the southern Philippines, where 27 Filipinos have been held hostage for five weeks. Rebels claimed last week to have beheaded two hos-tages because the government had not met their demands.

Mr Misauri flew to the southern city of Zamboanga yesterday in readiness for a meeting with the guerrillas or theirrepresentatives.

According to some reports, he has demanded sole authority to negotiate, without political interference, and has delayed going to Jolo himself until his mandate is clarified.

Police informants have said that the rebels have demanded 10 million ringgit, or £1.5m, in exchange for freedom for the group, but Mr Misauri reiterated the government line that no ransom would be paid.

He said the kidnappers had probably seized the tourists from Sipadan, in the Malaysian state of Sabah, because they had been unable to find wealthy hostages in the southern Philippines. "The economy is not that good," he said. "The businessmen have fled, so there aren't any suitable victims anymore." The Malaysian government said it had stepped up security in the coastal region where the 21 were abducted, increasing police surveillance around Sabah by air and sea.

Mr Misauri said that the Malaysian government did not welcome the prospect of its nationals being released first. "They want all hostages to be treated fairly and equally," he said yesterday.