Hostages 'safe' in Philippines
The leader of a group of Muslim extremists who took 20 tourists hostage in the Philippines today claimed his men beheaded three soldiers and that an American missionary was wounded during a clash.
The hostage-takers claimed that the rest of their hostages were safe.
Abu Sabaya also claimed negotiations with a government representative had begun with his demand that the troops chasing the Abu Sayyaf rebels through the rugged jungle must be withdrawn.
It was the first public contact from Sabaya since his men fled on Saturday night from a hospital they occupied for a day in the town of Lamitan.
The hostage saga began on May 27 with abductions from a beach resort across the Sulu Sea.
