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Emissaries head to Philippine camp
Philippine government emissaries headed to an Abu Sayyaf rebel camp early on Monday to secure the release of a South African hostage, a day after five kidnapped Westerners were set free.
Philippine government emissaries headed to an Abu Sayyaf rebel camp early on Monday to secure the release of a South African hostage, a day after five kidnapped Westerners were set free.
"We are expecting the release of Carel Strydom," government emissary Guillermo Ruiz told reporters as he and two others who have been negotiating with the rebels arrived in Jolo from nearby Zamboanga city.
If released, Strydom, 36, will join his wife Monique who was among the five set free by the Moslem separatist rebels on Sunday. The Strydoms were among 21 mostly foreign hostages seized at a Malaysian diving resort on April 23 and spirited away to Jolo in the southern Philippines.
The rebels, who are seeking an Islamic homeland in the southern Philippines, are still holding seven foreigners and one Filipino, but negotiators said they were likely to be freed in about a week. One of those released on Sunday, Maryse Burgot, was one of three French television reporters abducted on July 9 while covering the crisis.
Monique Strydom, Burgot and the others released on Sunday -- Frenchwoman Sonia Wendling, Lebanese-born Marie Moarbes of France and German Werner Wallert -- underwent a battery of medical tests before enjoying their first night of freedom in months. Diplomats said that they were all in good condition and were in Cebu City in the central Philippines awaiting Carel Strydom before travelling to Tripoli in Libya.
Bureau Report
"We are expecting the release of Carel Strydom," government emissary Guillermo Ruiz told reporters as he and two others who have been negotiating with the rebels arrived in Jolo from nearby Zamboanga city.
If released, Strydom, 36, will join his wife Monique who was among the five set free by the Moslem separatist rebels on Sunday. The Strydoms were among 21 mostly foreign hostages seized at a Malaysian diving resort on April 23 and spirited away to Jolo in the southern Philippines.
The rebels, who are seeking an Islamic homeland in the southern Philippines, are still holding seven foreigners and one Filipino, but negotiators said they were likely to be freed in about a week. One of those released on Sunday, Maryse Burgot, was one of three French television reporters abducted on July 9 while covering the crisis.
Monique Strydom, Burgot and the others released on Sunday -- Frenchwoman Sonia Wendling, Lebanese-born Marie Moarbes of France and German Werner Wallert -- underwent a battery of medical tests before enjoying their first night of freedom in months. Diplomats said that they were all in good condition and were in Cebu City in the central Philippines awaiting Carel Strydom before travelling to Tripoli in Libya.
Bureau Report