Muslim guerrillas in the Philippines freed all their remaining hostages today after apparently securing a promise of safe passage from the military to withdraw from the southern city of Zamboanga.
The rebels of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) had taken about 110 hostages after pitched battles with government troops on the outskirts of Zamboanga yesterday. They released 21 of the captives earlier today.
The rest of the captives, numbering about 90, were freed hours later. Some of them wept and some were smiling as they were presented to reporters by Muslim officials who had negotiated their release.
"It's over already, we were able to accomplish it without casualties among the hostages," said Lieutenant-General Roy Cimatu, the southern commander of the Philippine military.
At least 25 rebels, two soldiers and one civilian were killed in yesterday's clashes and dozens were wounded. There was no fresh fighting today.
The guerrillas are followers of Muslim governor Nur Misuari who has been detained in neighbouring Malaysia for illegal entry after a failed uprising on the southern Philippine island of Jolo last week.
