Posted on 05/20/2002 10:04:16 PM PDT by HAL9000
US hostage very ill, on stretcher: military
ONE of two American hostages held by Muslim kidnappers in the southern Philippines is seriously ill and is being carried around on a stretcher, a military officer said Tuesday.
Colonel Alexander Aleo said he had received intelligence that the condition of American captive Martin Burnham had worsened. Burnham, his wife Gracia and a Filipina nurse are being held by Abu Sayyaf Muslim group in the jungles of the island of Basilan. "His health has deteriorated drastically," said Aleo who is in charge of military forces hunting the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan.
There have been previous reports that Martin Burnham was suffering from malaria but Aleo said it was possible he had contracted other diseases.
The Burnhams, an American missionary couple and Filipina Ediborah Yap were kidnapped almost a year ago by the Abu Sayyaf, a shadowy rebel group who have been linked to the al-Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden.
Aleo said the three hostages were being held by Abu Sayyaf militants who were receiving assistance from local Muslim communities in Basilan.
Because of Martin Burnham's condition, the group is being hampered in its movements, Aleo said as he expressed hope that the military would soon pin down their location and rescue them.
Over a dozen Filipino hostages and one American, Californian Guillermo Sobero, have been killed by the Abu Sayyaf since they launched their kidnapping spree in May 2001.
More than 1,000 US troops have been deployed in the southern Philippines to help local forces in their operation against the Abu Sayyaf.
However the Americans are barred from taking part in combat and can only fire back in self-defense.
Prayer for ALL the Burnham Family and FRiends!
Amen,........More Graca and Mercy,.........In Jesus' Precious Name, Amen!!!
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