Muslim rebels holding 20 people hostage in the southern Philippines have threatened a mass killing if they come under military assault, a radio station reported today.
The DXRZ radio station said it had received a call from Abu Sabaya, a spokesman for the Abu Sayyaf rebels, and quoted him as saying: "We will not think twice to conduct mass killing once the military will launch offensive operations".
Sabaya previously claimed responsibility for Sunday's kidnapping of the 20 people in a call to the station but has not made any ransom demands.
The government has said it will not negotiate with the rebels and the military has said it is poised to launch an assault once it can pinpoint the location of the rebels.