A Muslim rebel leader claimed yesterday his men beheaded three soldiers and that an American missionary was wounded during a clash three days ago, but reported the rest of their exhausted hostages were safe.
Abu Sabaya also claimed negotiations with a government representative have begun with his demand that the troops chasing the Abu Sayyaf rebels through the rugged jungle must be withdrawn.
"If they wanted to seriously talk to us, they should show it by removing the military," he told Radio Mindanao Network, apparently speaking by satellite telephone. "While the soldiers are here, there will be no talking."
National Police Chief Leandro Mendoza confirmed that three representatives from the US FBI arrived yesterday to assist the government. The FBI representatives were experts in hostage negotiations.
Mendoza said the government began coordinating with the FBI "for advice and consultancy" immediately after the Abu Sayyaf seized its first hostages 10 days ago.
It was the first public contact from Sabaya since his men fled Saturday night from a hospital they occupied for a day in the town of Lamitan. The hostage saga began May 27 with abductions from a tourist resort across the Sulu Sea.
Abu Sabaya said the estimated 20 hostages were tired and suffering from stress because they had been at the front line of fighting with government forces but otherwise were largely unharmed.
Sabaya claimed, however, that Martin Burnham -- one of three Americans the group is holding -- suffered "several gunshot wounds in the back" by soldiers as the rebels were retreating, but he was evasive when pressed by the radio station for details.
Sabaya added that the hostages would not be harmed, and were being treated well.
"They wanted to drink Coke, so we went into town and gave them Coke. If we had wanted to kill all of them, we could've easily killed them all," Sabaya said.
He also claimed his men captured 13 soldiers, beheaded three who fought back and freed the rest.
The military, which has reported 15 soldiers killed and 51 wounded since fighting began Friday, did not immediately comment on the claim. The bodies of two resort workers were found Sunday, days after they had been hacked to death. One was beheaded.
Sabaya, who claims he led the resort kidnapping on May 27, said he spoke to a government representative over the weekend but that negotiations for the release of the hostages would not continue unless the military ceased its operations.
Sabaya insisted his men will not give up.
"The government wants our unconditional surrender. What are they, crazy? If you think you can follow us into the mountains and finish us off, you're wrong," he said, adding that his group was not "like a candle that you could extinguish with one blow."
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