Mr. Solana met with President Joseph Estrada but stressed that he was not in Manila to act as an international mediator. Philippine government negotiators however appear pessimistic. The rebels have yet to issue a list of demands. In the past, the Abu Sayyaf has sought ransom for its numerous kidnapping victims. The Philippine military has been engaged in skirmishes with the rebels during the past several weeks and has set up cordons to contain Abu Sayyaf movements.
Local officials say the captors have sliced through army lines with all or some of their captives.
Abu Sayyaf, the smaller and more extreme of the two Muslim rebel groups active in the southern Philippines, is also holding a separate group of Filipino hostages in nearby Basilan province. Bombings and clashes between the army and the larger Muslim rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, have also intensified in the last month.