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| Southeast Asia |
| Philippines rebels free hostage |
| 2009-04-18 |
| A Swiss Red Cross worker has been freed by Islamic rebels in the Philippines, after being held for three months. Andreas Notter was freed unharmed on the southern island of Jolo, and was now being given a medical check-up, Defence Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said. Another hostage, Mary Jean Lacaba, was freed a fortnight ago. Abu Sayyaf rebels seized three Red Cross workers on 15 January after they visited a local prison and are still holding an Italian, Eugenio Vagni. The Abu Sayyaf militants had threatened to behead one of the hostages unless all military operations against them were halted and troops withdrew from the area. At least 800 soldiers of 1,000 pulled back on Jolo island before the rebels' deadline of 31 March, but the government refused to withdraw completely, saying doing so would leave the island's civilian population exposed to militant attacks. |
| Posted by:Steve White |