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CNN Live At Daybreak

Terrorists Behead Two Philippine Hostages

Aired August 22, 2002 - 06:31   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's head to the Philippines right now, shall we? Two of the six hostages taken earlier this week in the Philippines have been killed by their Muslim extremist captors.
CNN' Maria Ressa joins us live from Manila with more on a grizzly story.

Good morning.

MARIA RESSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. It's evening here. We're about 12 hours ahead of you.

There were six Christians, all of them Jehovah's Witnesses, selling products, like Avon cosmetics, door-to-door in a very remote, very Muslim area of the Philippines. Philippine police say that they were carrying the Bible and Christian pamphlets.

Tuesday afternoon, this group of six were kidnapped by armed Muslim men. One man identified as the nephew of one of the Abu Sayyaf commanders.

The Abu Sayyaf is linked to the al Qaeda by the United States and the Philippines, has been the target of joint U.S.-Philippine military exercises that have just ended July 31.

On Thursday, authorities in Jolo found two severed heads of the two men in the group. Taped to one of the heads was a note that said, "This is what will happen to those who do not believe in Allah."

Four women remain hostage. The Philippine military believes the Abu Sayyaf is responsible, but Jolo is one of the strongholds of the Abu Sayyaf, but there are several other armed Muslim groups there. It is also known as the "wild west" of the Philippines, the main problem there being really the breakdown of law and order.

Philippine authorities say that there is a proposal from the U.S. to bring American troops to Jolo, when the next round of counterterrorism exercises begin in October.

Back to you -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Just a terrible story. Maria Ressa live from Manila this morning -- thank you.

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