Six freed hostages from Philippines greeted by Ghadafi
TRIPOLI -- Libyan leader Moammar Ghadafi Monday greeted
six hostages freed by the Abu Sayyaf rebels in
the Philippines after a flight from Mactan, Cebu.
The six hostages were greeted by a Philippine Air
Force marching band upon arriving at Mactan from
Zamboanga city on the southern Philippine island
of Mindanao.
At the Mactan Benito Ebuen Airbase, the former
captives boarded a luxury Libyan plane formerly
owned by ex-Russian President Boris Yeltsin.
The flight made a stop in the United Arab Emirates
where it will resume the journey to Tripoli later in
the day.
Even upon arriving in Zamboanga from the isolated
Abu Sayyaf camp in Jolo, the presence of the Libyan
leader was already apparent. Portraits of Ghadafi
were raised as the hostages landed and again as
they left for Mactan.
The release of the hostages is a major public relations
boon for Ghadafi, and has earned him praise from unlikely
sources in the international community. France and Germany officially
thanked Libya for its efforts in bringing about the release.
Some sources have reported that Libya paid US$1 million for each
hostage, but the Libyan government said that it obtained the
release by promising development projects in the Philippines.
Earlier stories
Germany reported preparing ransom for Philippine hostages
Muslim rebels may release two ailing foreign hostages
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