Abu Sayyaf militants free two Indonesians

Abu Sayyaf gunmen have freed two Indonesian tugboat crewmen kidnapped by the ransom-seeking militants six months ago and held in the jungles of the southern Philippines, the military said yesterday. Regional military spokesman Maj. Filemon Tan said the militants released Mohammad Nazer and Robin Peter to a rebel commander belonging to the Moro National Liberation Front near Sulu province’s Indanan town amid pressure from military assaults. The Moro rebel front is engaged in peace talks with the government and often acts as an intermediary for the release of Abu Sayyaf hostages. It was not immediately clear if a ransom was paid. The two hostages were abducted from a tugboat off Sulu’s Simisa Island in June and taken to the Abu Sayyaf’s jungle camps. After being freed, the captives were handed over to Sulu officials yesterday and then taken to a military trauma hospital for a checkup.