As preparations are being made for talks for the release of the 21 hostages, the chief negotiator has ruled out paying ransom to the kidnappers. Mr. Misuari, is now governor of a Muslim autonomous region in the Southern Philippines, and was appointed by President Joseph Estrada, to carry out the negotiations. Mr. Misuari left the Philippine capital Thursday morning for the 960 kilometer flight to the Mindinao region and the Sulu archipelago, where the kidnappers, members of the Abu Sayyaf extremist Muslim group, are holding the hostages. The hostages were kidnapped Sunday from Malaysia's Sipadan Island, off the east coast of Borneo. They were taken in boats to Jolo Island in the Sulu archipelago, the southern-most island group of the Philippines.
Reports say the group has been split up.
Ten foreign tourists, including German, French, South African, Finnish and Lebanese nationals, are being held along with nine Malaysians and two Filipinos. Philippine Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado says the hostages were divided into several groups and moved around the town of Talipao, a mountainous area about 20 kilometers from Jolo, Sulu's capital. This is the second hostage drama now being played out with the Abu Sayyaf rebels at the center. An Abu Sayyaf group has been under attack by Philippine troops in Basilan province, where the rebels have been holding 27 other hostages, mostly women and children. Following weeks of fruitless talks, the Philippine military launched attacks on the camp last weekend, but has been held back in recent days due to bad weather, jungle terrain and the threat of landmines.