41.   Some of their hostages were killed, others escaped and the rest were freed, reportedly for large ransoms.

42.   The abduction of the three new hostages has sparked fears of another wave of kidnappings encouraged by the large ransom payments.

43.   The Abu Sayyaf group released most of its hostages from the Malaysian resort raid for large ransoms, reportedly paid by Libya.

44.   The group has killed some hostages and freed others, reportedly for large ransoms.

45.   The large ransoms have led to fears of an increase in future kidnappings.

46.   The kidnappers hoped for a large ransom and easily avoided security agents.

47.   The murders were carried out by paramilitary groups backed by powerful drug traffickers, who were upset that guerrillas purportedly had abducted several traffickers for large ransoms.

48.   The rebels often set up random roadblocks, hoping to catch rich Colombians or foreigners who may garner large ransoms.

49.   The rebels reportedly used the large ransom payments to rearm themselves.

50.   The paramilitary groups were backed by powerful drug traffickers, who were upset that guerrillas had purportedly abducted several traffickers for large ransoms.