An American missionary held hostage for more than a year by Muslim rebels in the southern Philippines was killed and his wife wounded but rescued during an attempt by Philippine troops to free them.
A Filipina nurse held hostage by the same Abu Sayyaf rebels, who have been linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network, was also killed in the rescue attempt, officials said.
"The terrorists shall not be allowed to get away with this. We shall not stop until the Abu Sayyaf is finished," Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said in Manila, announcing the death of missionary Mr Martin Burnham and Filipina Ms Deborah Yap. "I am deeply saddened," she said.
Mr Burnham's wife, Gracia, was recovering in a hospital with a bullet wound to the leg sustained in the fighting during heavy rain in the jungle of Zamboanga del Norte province on southern Mindanao island.
Four rebels were killed while Philippine troops suffered at least seven wounded in the fighting which erupted during what the US military said was a rescue attempt.
US troops deployed in the southern Philippines to train Philippine soldiers in counter-terrorism operations were not involved in the clash, officials said.
The American couple's ordeal began on May 27th, 2001, a day after they arrived at a beach resort off Palawan island to celebrate their 18th wedding anniversary.
Abu Sayyaf gunmen, riding in motor boats, raided the resort at dawn, grabbing the Burnhams, another American and 17 Filipinos and spiriting them away across 480 kilometers of sea to their hideout on Basilan.
The rebels later beheaded the third American, Mr Guillermo Sobero, and some of the Filipinos. Others were freed for ransom.