Philippine rebels suspend 'beheading'
MANILA -- The separatist Abu Sayyaf rebels
delayed a deadline Thursday for beheading U.S. hostage
Jeffrey Schilling after an appeal by his mother.
The Muslim rebel group had threatened to
behead Schilling as a gift to President
Macapagal-Arroyo on her 54th birthday.
Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Sabaya issued
a statement over Radyo
Agong radio station a few minutes after the
deadline declaring that the execution
had been called off.
"The execution is suspended to give Mrs. Schilling a chance to appeal to
President to settle this problem," Sabaya said.
Sabaya asked Carol Schilling, who arrived in Manila Monday,
to make a direct appeal to Macapagal.
Thousands of government soldiers have been combing Basilan and nearby
islands in the southern Philippines after orders by the President to
"annihilate" the rebels.
The conflict between the government and the rebels intensified sharply after
former President Estrada ordered 'all-out war' in response to a spate of
kidnappings for ransom by Abu Sayyaf members.
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Earlier stories
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Abu Sayyaf Muslim rebels ready to release six hostages
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