Muslim rebels in the southern Philippines have freed a German woman after keeping her for 12 weeks in a jungle camp, but have held on to her husband, son and scores of other hostages.
Mrs Renate Wallert (56) was handed over by Abu Sayyaf rebels to the chief hostage negotiator, Mr Robert Aventajado, yesterday, the day of her 34th wedding anniversary.
She told reporters that she was not "totally happy", as her family had not been released with her. In a message to her captors, Mrs Wallert said: "Promise me that you will release my husband and son."
She was later flown to Zamboanga, 150 km to the north-east, where she boarded a special plane to the Philippine capital, Manila, and then flew on to Frankfurt.
Other hostages may be released in a few days, according to Mr Abdul Jawa Selamat, a Malaysian police lance corporal who was freed on Friday. Mrs Wallert's release came as the army said suspected members of a larger Muslim rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), shot and killed 21 Christians, including a pregnant woman, in a mosque in the southern Philippines.
The army said the victims were among 29 people kidnapped by the MILF on Sunday and added that they were executed the same night.
Mrs Wallert, her husband, Werner, son, Marc, and 18 other people were kidnapped from a Malaysian diving resort on Easter Sunday, April 23rd, and taken by boat to Jolo, where the Abu Sayyaf has hideouts in the hills.
Two Malaysians have since been released, but the rebels still hold the two remaining Wallert family members, seven other Malaysians, two French nationals, two Finns, two South Africans, two Filipinos and a Lebanese.
"She was released purely as a goodwill gesture", Mr Aventajado told local radio when asked if any ransom had been paid. Asked if more releases were likely soon, he said: "I think so."
He later said one more hostage had been identified as the next one to be released, but would not give details.
In Germany the Foreign Minister, Mr Joschka Fischer, welcomed the release but declined to say if any strings had been attached.
The rebels have demanded £1 million for each of the hostages kidnapped from the Malaysian resort, but the Philippine government has said it will not pay any ransom. Privately, officials have said some funds would have to change hands.
Police officers present at the release in the hills on Jolo said Mrs Wallert appeared dazed and did not realise she was being set free until Mr Aventajado identified himself.
"Aventajado said: `You are free now', and then she broke down," said one officer.