World

Ex-Hostages Arrive In Tripoli

September 9, 2000 / 9:56 AM EDT / AP

A plane carrying four former hostages freed by Muslim rebels in southern Philippines arrived in Tripoli on Monday, amid fears fat Libyan payoffs would only encourage more hostage taking.

Libya reportedly paid $1 million each to secure freedom for the German, Frenchman and two Finns who flew out of the Philippines Monday after being held for months by a small Muslim rebel group.

First to appear at the aircraft's door was Libyan negotiator Rajab Azzarouq, who triumphantly waved to the dozens of well wishers and journalists waiting at the tarmac below. The hostages then followed, carrying bouquets of flowers. They later went to the VIP lounge at Tripoli airport, where the freed hostages were expected to speak to journalists.

After showing the arrival of the aircraft, State Libyan television began broadcasting patriotic songs over footage of hostages and reporters inside the VIP lounge.

A day after the four hostages were released Saturday, three men, all Malaysians, were abducted from near where Abu Sayyaf rebels kidnapped 21 people, including the four Europeans, on April 23.

One Filipino resort worker remains in captivity from the group captured in April. Two French television journalists, seized when they visited the rebels' camp, are still being held by the Abu Sayyaf. The guerrillas are also holding 12 Filipino Christian evangelists.

Another faction is holding American Jeffrey Schilling.

Libyan officials have denied ransom was paid, saying they instead secured the rebels' confidence by funding development projects in the impoverished, heavily Muslim southern Philippines. But negotiators in the Philippines said Libya paid dlrs 1 million ransom for each of the four released Saturday and another dlrs 1 million each for six released late last month.

"Paying ransom ultimately comes back to bite you," said Philippines presidential Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora.

The released hostages have reported sudden signs of wealth in the rebel camp new clothes, gold jewelry. Negotiations for the remaining hostages have been suspended because of fighting among the Abu Sayyaf factions, reportedly over the division of the ransom money.

"There was no payment with the aim of encouraging the kidnappers to carry on more operations," Ali El Tureiki, Libya's state minister of African affairs, told reporters in Tripoli this week. "The agreement was to do some projects to help the Muslims in the south Philippines, and the areas Libya considers itself morally responsible for ...."

Muslim Libya has long-standing ties with Muslim rebels in the mostly Catholic Philippines. In addition to negotiating in previous kidnappings, it has helped build schools and mosques in the south and has been accused of training rebels from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, a large Muslim rebel group.

Despite the ransom concerns, Libya was reaping diplomatic rewards for its efforts.

Libya, long accused of sponsoring terrorism and meddling in the affairs of other countries, is working to end years of international isolation. International sanctions were suspended last year when Libya handed over for trial in the West two of its government officials accused in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103.

Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja headed to the north African nation to participate in a welcome ceremony for the hostages scheduled Tuesday. France and Germany were sending lower-ranking officials from their foreign ministries, though diplomats in Tripoli said German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, in New York Monday for U.N. meetings, would try to reach Tripoli in time for Tuesday's ceremony.

A smaller welcome ceremony was planned Monday night at the airport. It was not yet clear Monday whether Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi would attend any of the celebrations.

A similar ceremony held for the six former hostages released last month was an anti-American affair, held at the ruins of the house where Gadhafi's adopted daughter was killed in a 1986 U.S. bombing.

The freed hostages were Risto Vahanen and Seppo Franti of Finland; German Marc Wallert, whose parents were earlier released; and Stephane Loisy of France.