Jolo - Muslim extremists are refusing to free 12 Western hostages in one batch despite an improved Libyan-backed deal, a Philippine government negotiator said yesterday.
The Abu Sayyaf prefers to first free the four women in the Western group the negotiator, Mr Farouk Hussein, said after an overnight visit to the gunmen's hideout on Jolo island.
"They cannot release hostages simultaneously for fear of military operations" against them, and would only free them "on a staggered basis", he said.