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| Philippines gunmen seize students | Philippines gunmen seize students |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Armed bandits have abducted dozens of students and teachers in the southern Philippines, officials say. | Armed bandits have abducted dozens of students and teachers in the southern Philippines, officials say. |
| A military spokesman said 65 people had been seized at a school in Agusan del Sur province on Mindanao island. | A military spokesman said 65 people had been seized at a school in Agusan del Sur province on Mindanao island. |
| Police later said 18 hostages - 17 of them children and one teacher - had been freed by the gunmen, who were described as a criminal gang. | Police later said 18 hostages - 17 of them children and one teacher - had been freed by the gunmen, who were described as a criminal gang. |
| A BBC correspondent says there is no sign it is linked to a massacre on Mindanao of 57 people last month. | A BBC correspondent says there is no sign it is linked to a massacre on Mindanao of 57 people last month. |
| The BBC's Rachel Harvey in Jakarta says there is a significant amount of lawlessness in the southern Philippines. | The BBC's Rachel Harvey in Jakarta says there is a significant amount of lawlessness in the southern Philippines. |
| Thursday's kidnappings 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 insurgency elsewhere on Mindanao; those rebels are currently in peace talks with the government. | |
| Army spokesman Maj Michelle Anayron told AFP news agency a "criminal gang" was responsible for the abductions near the town of Prosperidad on Mindanao's eastern coast. | Army spokesman Maj Michelle Anayron told AFP news agency a "criminal gang" was responsible for the abductions near the town of Prosperidad on Mindanao's eastern coast. |
| Agusan del Sur Vice-Governor Santiago Cane told AP news agency 19 bandits fleeing the authorities had seized the residents to use as human shields. | Agusan del Sur Vice-Governor Santiago Cane told AP news agency 19 bandits fleeing the authorities had seized the residents to use as human shields. |
| Are you in the area? Send us your comments. | Are you in the area? Send us your comments. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |