Philippines Pleads to Save Hostage's Life

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Philippines Pleads to Save Hostage's Life

By DANICA KIRKA
Associated Press Writer





BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- The Philippine government made a direct appeal Tuesday to insurgents holding a Filipino hostage, pleading with them to show mercy for the man they threatened to kill if the country did not agree to pull its troops from Iraq early.

Philippine Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Rafael Seguis went on Arab TV station Al-Jazeera to try to secure the release of Angelo dela Cruz.

Insurgents had said they would kill the truck driver by Monday evening if the Philippines did not agree to pull its 51-member peacekeeping force by July 20. Manila on Monday restated its troop commitment ended Aug. 20.

Seguis said Tuesday the Philippines would pull its troops out "as soon as possible." When questioned by the newscaster as to when that would be, he said a pullout would come according to the government's commitments.



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