Hostage asks for troop pullout

2004-07-10 12:23

Baghdad - A Filipino worker being held hostage by insurgents in Iraq appealed to his country to give in to their demands and withdraw its small contingent of troops, according to a video shown on the Al-Jazeera television station on Saturday.

Angelo de la Cruz was snatched on Wednesday near restive Fallujah in an attack that left his Iraqi security guard dead.

His captors said they would behead dela Cruz in three days if Manila did not pull out its troops.

The video appeared only moments after the Philippines' announced it would withdraw its 51-member peacekeeping contingent from Iraq after its stint ended on August 20. It was not clear if the troops would be replaced.

It is reported from Manila the Philippines government previously had considered extending the mandate for the 51-strong force, but made no mention of an extension in its statement on Saturday.

Presidential spokesperson Ignacio Bune said: "Our humanitarian contingent is scheduled to return on August 20.

"Our future actions will be guided by the UN security council decision as embodied in resolution 1546, which defines the role of the UN. and its member states in the future of Iraq."

Filipino contract workers still there

While Saturday's statement appeared to leave open the possibility of a future Philippine troop commitment in Iraq, it appeared to be a blow - at least in the short-term - to the US.-led coalition.

It made no mention, however, of any further action on the Filipino contract workers there who are much more crucial to Washington.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo already had barred any more contract workers from going to Iraq, but the statement did not mention any plans to have them return home.

The 4 000 or so Filipino workers on US military bases across Iraq provide food services, janitorial work and building maintenance.

- AP