Fighters holding three Red Cross workers hostage in the southern Philippines have agreed to release one of their captives in return for the military pulling back its forces, officials have said.The army said on Thursday it had agreed to the move in exchange for a pledge from a commander of the Abu Sayyaf group to free one of the aid workers it kidnapped more than two months ago.
"We will reposition our troops as necessary to allow the exhaustion of other peaceful means for the safe release of the victims," Ernesto Torres, a military spokesman, said in a statement.He said the safety of the aid workers, who have been held hostage on the southern island of Jolo, "remains the paramount concern".
The aid workers -
Swiss national Andreas Notter, Eugenio Vagni, from Italy, and Mary Jean Lacaba, a Filipino national - were kidnapped on January 15 and are believed to be held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf, a separatist group that intelligence agencies say has ties to al-Qaeda.Al Jazeera's Marga Ortigas reporting from the southern Philippines said a release is expected soon.
"There has been no confirmation of an exact date or time, but our sources have told us that according to those holding the aid workers, a release is imminent," she added.
Courtesy: Al Jazeera
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