The Philippine government has refused demands from militants to negotiate for the release of several hostages.
A video posted to YouTube (since removed) showed two Canadian men, a Norwegian man, and one Filipino woman who were abducted from the Oceanview resort near the southern island of Mindanao on September 21.
The three foreign hostages pleaded with the Philippine government to cease military operations on the island of Jolo and negotiate for their release, a demand echoed by one of their captors moments later.
However, the Philippine army has rejected the kidnappers’ demands. “There is no negotiation that can be made with any of those who are perpetrating this crime,” said military spokesman Colonel Restituto Padila.
Though the kidnappers did not identify themselves, Jolo is a known stronghold of al-Qaeda linked Islamist group, Abu Sayyaf (ASG).
Ukraine separatists reject MH17 verdict
A high-ranking, pro-Russian rebel in Ukraine has rejected the Dutch report into last year’s downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 (MH17). Aleksandr Zakharchenko, head of the “Donetsk People’s Republic”, denied his forces possessed the BUK missile launchers implicated in the disaster which claimed 298 lives in July 2014. Western governments have blamed Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine for the crash, while Moscow and the rebels instead accuse the Ukrainian military of shooting down the plane.
Israel sets up Jerusalem checkpoints
Israel has set up checkpoints between Jewish and Palestinian neighbourhoods in Jerusalem. The move comes after weeks of civil unrest and stabbing attacks, sparked by new Israeli restrictions on Palestinians visiting the al-Aqsa mosque. Israel has occupied East Jerusalem since seizing it in the Six-Day War in 1967.
Turkey sacks police officials over Ankara bombings
Ankara’s police chief and two other officials have been sacked in the aftermath of October 10’s suicide bombings. The trio were stood down following suggestions by investigators, who believed it would “allow for a healthy investigation” into the disaster. Ninety-seven people were killed, and more than 500 injured, when two explosions hit Ankara Central railway station in Turkey’s worst terrorist attack in modern history. The government has blamed Islamic State.
Hug ends US woman’s anti-Islam protest
A Muslim woman ended a protest outside a mosque in Ohio by hugging the lone woman involved. The protester, known only as “Annie”, held up signs condemning Sharia law outside the Noor Islamic Cultural Centre in Columbus on Saturday. However, she abandoned her protest after a discussion with Muslim community members, saying she was actually opposed to the violence in the Middle East. Annie accepted a tour of the cultural centre after receiving a hug from counter-protester Cynthia DeBoutinkhar. – Compiled from web sources by Jake Nelson
Top image of the Philippines hostages taken from the militants’ video (since removed from YouTube).
About the author
Jake Nelson is the radio and special projects editor of The Newsroom, and specialises in politics and international news.
