Muslim rebels in the Philippines who had threatened to execute three US hostages have postponed their plan after the government conceded to their demand for a Malaysian negotiator.
But local officials said gunmen suspected of being members of the same rebel group had taken around 50 children hostage from a town in the southern island of Basilan.
The Abu Sayyaf rebels, based in Basilan, had threatened to kill the US hostages at noon (0400 GMT) if Mr Sairin Karno, a former Malaysian senator, was not allowed to negotiate with them. The government agreed to the demand shortly before the deadline.
"If what they are saying is true, that they will contact the Malaysian government and Sairin will come in and they will cease military operations here, then I can assure them that we will postpone the beheading," a rebel spokesman said.