Former U.S. hostage testifies in RP

Former U.S. hostage testifies in RP

PHILIPPINES: An American missionary kidnapped and held for more than a year by Moro militants in the Philippines testified against her suspected former captors on Thursday in an emotional return to the country.

Gracia Burnham, whose husband Martin died in a rescue attempt by troops in June 2002, identified 6 out of 8 suspected members of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group as having taken part in the kidnapping of 3 Americans and 17 Filipinos from a beach resort in 2001.

Separated from the suspects by a thin wall in a court at a Manila police base, Burnham was composed but came close to tears as she recounted the death of her husband, lawyers said. The other American, Guillermo Sobero, was among several hostages beheaded by the militants.

"Gracia gave a very smooth narration of her ordeal. It was the strongest corroborative evidence," state prosecutor Aristotle Reyes, told reporters, who were barred from the court.

"We have a very strong case." -- Reuters