This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8405209.stm
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 10 | Version 11 |
---|---|
Gunmen hold Philippines hostages | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
An armed group has seized dozens of hostages from a school in the southern Philippines, officials have said. | |
The Philippine military spokesman told the BBC all 75 hostages had been released but later reports indicated at least 55 people were still being held. | |
The kidnappers belong to a gang of former government-armed militia on the island of Mindanao, police say. | |
A BBC correspondent says there is no sign of a link to the killing of 57 people on the island last month. | |
The BBC's Rachel Harvey in Bangkok says the southern island of Mindanao is awash in weapons as the government has armed a number of civilian groups to help the military and police fight a number of insurgencies. | |
'Demands' | 'Demands' |
About 15 gunmen - described by officials as members of a criminal gang - took part in Thursday's abductions. | About 15 gunmen - described by officials as members of a criminal gang - took part in Thursday's abductions. |
They raided a school in a remote village near the town of Prosperidad in Agusan del Sur province in the early morning. | |
Residents of nearby homes were also seized, the provincial police said. | |
Negotiators have secured the release of 17 students and one adult. The remaining hostages, at least 55, were adults, police said. | |
Police chief Marco Archinue told AFP news agency the men had earlier demanded the dropping of charges against them, including murder and robbery. | Police chief Marco Archinue told AFP news agency the men had earlier demanded the dropping of charges against them, including murder and robbery. |
The incident took place in an area where communist rebels are known to operate, although it is not thought to be related to that four-decades long insurgency. | The incident took place in an area where communist rebels are known to operate, although it is not thought to be related to that four-decades long insurgency. |
Nor are the abductions believed to be linked to a Muslim separatist rebellion elsewhere on Mindanao; one of the main insurgent groups is in peace talks with the government. | |
Mindanao is an extremely volatile part of the archipelago. | Mindanao is an extremely volatile part of the archipelago. |
Martial law was imposed on other side of the island in Maguindanao province last weekend after a political massacre there left 57 people dead. | Martial law was imposed on other side of the island in Maguindanao province last weekend after a political massacre there left 57 people dead. |