Isabela - Muslim rebels in the southern Philippines called off their threat to behead three US hostages yesterday but seized 15 new hostages, including children, and burned down a Catholic chapel.
The Abu Sayyaf rebels announced they had postponed the threatened executions of a missionary couple from Kansas and a Californian tourist after the government backed down and agreed to let a Malaysian negotiate with the guerrillas.
But just before the announcement, 20 gunmen from the same group swooped on a village in Lantawan on Basilan island and grabbed new hostages, National Security Adviser Mr Roilo Golez said.
The raiders also burned a chapel and five houses, the military said.