Manila: Al Qaeda-linked Islamist militants in the Philippines holding two Germans said on Friday they had received some of the ransom they had been demanding and would not kill one of the Germans as they had threatened to.
The hostages, captured by militants of the Abu Sayyaf group in April from a yacht on the high seas, are being held in the interior of the remote island of Jolo, 600 miles (960 km) south of Manila.
Al Kataib, a man who described himself as an associate of militant spokesman Abu Rami, said in a telephone call to reporters in Zamboanga City that the group got a portion of the 250 million Philippine pesos ($5.56 million) they had been demanded by Friday and "would not touch" the German they had threatened to behead.
He declined to say how much money they had got, or give details about who had paid it.
A government official confirmed that the German man had not been killed.
"The beheading will not happen," said the government source who declined to be identified.
The official, who was privy to the negotiations with the rebels, said about 60 million pesos had been paid. The remainder would be delivered after more talks, the official said.
The Abu Sayyaf group, which says it supports Islamic State fighters in the Middle East, have also demanded that Germany stops supporting US-led air strikes on Islamic State fighters in Iraq and Syria.
German government sources told Reuters that Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier had sent a special envoy to the Philippines to negotiate a deal.
The envoy, Ruediger Koenig, had arrived in Manila, the sources said on Thursday evening.
The rebels have a record of kidnappings, killings and bombings.
Some Muslim groups in the southern Philippines have long been fighting Manila's rule, but Abu Sayyaf burst into prominence in 2000 after kidnapping 21 tourists and workers from a dive resort in nearby Malaysia.
The hostages, captured by militants of the Abu Sayyaf group in April from a yacht on the high seas, are being held in the interior of the remote island of Jolo, 600 miles (960 km) south of Manila.
Al Kataib, a man who described himself as an associate of militant spokesman Abu Rami, said in a telephone call to reporters in Zamboanga City that the group got a portion of the 250 million Philippine pesos ($5.56 million) they had been demanded by Friday and "would not touch" the German they had threatened to behead.
A government official confirmed that the German man had not been killed.
Advertisement
The official, who was privy to the negotiations with the rebels, said about 60 million pesos had been paid. The remainder would be delivered after more talks, the official said.
Advertisement
German government sources told Reuters that Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier had sent a special envoy to the Philippines to negotiate a deal.
Advertisement
The rebels have a record of kidnappings, killings and bombings.
Advertisement
© Thomson Reuters 2014
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Who Is Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Pakistani Terrorist Behind 9/11 Attacks Philippine Tanker Carrying 1.4 Million Litres Of Oil Capsizes In Manila Bay 2 Suspected Bangladeshi Terrorists Arrested From Guwahati Railway Station Indian Airports, Borders On Alert As Global Mpox Cases Rise: 10 Points "My Intention Was To...": Sudha Murty Clarifies Raksha Bandhan Post Finances Of Kolkata Hospital During Ex-Principal's Tenure Under Scanner Biden To Pass Torch To Kamala Harris At Democratic Convention: 10 Points US Approves $3.5 Billion Sale Of Military Helicopters To South Korea Watch: Rahul Gandhi Takes An Uber To Share Plight Of Gig Workers Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.