41.   Many of the kidnappings in and around Chechnya have targeted foreign aid workers and journalists, who could potentially bring high ransom payments to their captors.

42.   Most have been released after millions of dollars in ransom payments by Libya and Malaysia, negotiators say.

43.   Murad said de la Marche would be released without any ransom payment, and that MILF and government representatives were discussing arrangements for the turnover.

44.   Several months ago a policeman posing as a go-between with the ransom payment was shot to death when the abductors realized they had been fooled.

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

46.   The companies have not publicly confirmed the ransom payment.

47.   The military has said the guerrillas spent millions of dollars in ransom payments from a mass kidnapping last year on weapons and speedboats.

48.   The hostages are often held months while their families negotiate ransom payments.

49.   The Philippine government also has discouraged ransom payments, making the outcome of the negotiations unclear.

50.   The Philippine government frowns on ransom payments to discourage frequent kidnappings by bandits and rebel groups on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao.