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June 11, 2001, The Philippine Star, Libya's Gadhaffi offers help to end Sayyaf hostage crisis, by Paolo Romero,

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June 11, 2001, The Philippine Star, Libya's Gadhaffi offers help to end Sayyaf hostage crisis, by Paolo Romero,

 

The government is seriously considering Libya's offer to help resolve the two-week-old hostage crisis in Mindanao, Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said yesterday.

 

He said the offer of assistance was made by Libyan leader Moammar Gadhaffi during a telephone conversation with President Arroyo Saturday night.

 

Tiglao clarified that the main topic of the talk was the forthcoming peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to open June 20 in Tripoli, Libya.

 

"Mr. Gadhaffi reiterated his full support for the peace talks, and thanked her for accepting Libya's offer to host it in Tripoli," Tiglao said.

 

He added that Gadhaffi casually asked Mrs. Arroyo about the hostage crisis in Basilan, and told her that his government is available for whatever the Philippines may ask to help end the hostage drama.

 

"Mr. Gadhaffi informed her that the Libyan government is supportive of the Philippine government's no-ransom policy against the Abu Sayyaf bandits and that it is joining the Muslim world in condemning the criminal group's terrorist and kidnapping activities," Tiglao told journalists.

 

He said the President assured her Libyan counterpart that the government is doing all it can to rescue the victims and neutralize the Abu Sayyaf, adding she remained confident about the ability of the troops to crush the enemy.

 

Tiglao said no specific form of assistance was discussed, but nevertheless, Mrs. Arroyo expressed her appreciation for Gadhaffi's overture.

 

He also said the offer would have to be thoroughly studied since Libya has been tagged by the United States as a state sponsor of international terrorist cells.

 

"As of the moment, military operations are enough," Tiglao stressed.

 

Former Libyan Ambassador Rajab Azarrouq figured prominently in the negotiations for the release of the European hostages rounded up by the Abu Sayyaf from the Malaysian resort island of Sipadan in April last year.

 

The release came amid reports that the Gadhaffi Charity Organization, managed by the Libyan leader's son Seif Gadhaffi, bankrolled the ransom payment.

 

Meanwhile, a stalemate loomed over the Abu Sayyaf's demand for the involvement of Malaysia in the negotiations for the release of the three American hostages.

 

The potential impasse developed as the Malaysian government rejected the Abu Sayyaf demand, saying the hostage crisis is an internal problem of the Philippines.

 

Malacañan also insisted that the extremist guerrillas should deal with William Castillo as the official mediator of the government.

 

Castillo said he was able to establish contact with the kidnappers on Saturday, adding they had reached an certain understanding. He did not elaborate, and gave no indication on the condition of the hostages.

 

"Our intermediary, Mr. William Castillo, is continuing to negotiate (but) we still do not have the latest report," Tiglao said.

 

National Security Adviser Roilo Golez said "it is not very clear" how the Malaysians could help and why the Abu Sayyaf was asking for former Malaysian Sen. Sarno Sairin and businessman Yusuf Hamdan.

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