RP rebels say U.S. hostage alive

RP rebels say U.S. hostage alive

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (AP): American hostage Jeffrey Schilling is still alive nearly a month after the Philippine military launched a massive operation to rescue him and four other hostages from a group of Muslim rebels, a guerrilla spokesman said Friday.

However, Abu Sabaya, spokesman for the Abu Sayyaf rebels, refused to allow Schilling to be interviewed by Radio Mindanao Network, which he called to deny rumors the American had been killed.

It was the first time the rebels have made a public statement in nearly three weeks.

In previous interviews with the same radio station, Sabaya allowed Schilling to speak, and the American appealed to the government to negotiate with the rebels instead of pressing ahead with the military operation. The rebels are also holding three Malaysians and one Filipino.