Manila - President Gloria Arroyo yesterday declared an "all-out war" against Muslim Abu Sayyaf extremists, who had threatened to behead their US hostage as a birthday "gift" to her when she turns 54 later in the week.
Ms Arroyo dismissed the group as "simply a money-crazed gang of criminals" without an ideology, unlike the larger separatist group, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which has agreed to resume peace talks.
