Rebels in American’s kidnapping captured

Associated Press

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines — At least six suspected Muslim rebels surrendered and three more — including one who said he witnessed the beheading of a U.S. hostage — were captured, police and military said.

Police Supt. Damming Unga said one suspected member of the extremist Abu Sayyaf group was captured in the southern city of Zamboanga and two others were seized in a house on the nearby island of Basilan on Tuesday.

Bashir Balahim, a 16-year-old suspect captured along with his father, Abdul Balahim, 48, told reporters he saw the beheading of Guillermo Sobero, a man from Corona, Calif., who was abducted with 17 Filipinos and two other Americans on May 27 from a southwest beach resort.

Sobero’s bones were found on Basilan earlier this month and positively identified. An Abu Sayyaf leader said they beheaded him in June to warn the military to halt an offensive against the group.

The rebels have links with Saudi exile Osama bin Laden, according to Philippine officials and the rebels themselves.

Bashir Balahim, smiling and surrounded by police, told reporters he saw Sobero blindfolded and pleading for his life as a fellow rebel prepared to chop his head off.

The Abu Sayyaf still holds hostage 10 Filipinos, mostly seized from plantations and used as forced labor, and Wichita, Kan., missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham.

Copyright ©2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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