Jolo - Muslim extremist kidnappers yesterday raised their ransom demand for a group of Malaysians among 38 hostages they are holding in the southern Philippines, a day after releasing an ailing German woman, Ms Renate Wallert, sources said.
The expected release of the seven remaining Malaysian hostages was reportedly put off yesterday due to the new demand by the Abu Sayyaf gunmen, sources close to the negotiations said.
The sources said $3 million had been paid to redeem all nine Malaysians in the group, which led to the release of two of them over the past month.
The Abu Sayyaf, a loose coalition of small armed groups which style themselves as Muslim independence fighters, are also holding Ms Wallert's husband and son, a German journalist, five French citizens, two Finns, two South Africans, a Lebanese and 18 Filipinos.