81.   Philippine police arrested five suspected kidnappers hours after they freed two hostages in exchange for a ransom payment, a police spokesman said Tuesday.

82.   Previously, the official said, the US government would not assist in any way with ransom payments.

83.   The Japanese government intended to dissociate itself from any ransom payment but approved of such payment by private companies, the newspaper quoted unspecified sources in Lima as saying.

84.   The government has said it would not negotiate for the any ransom payments for Pierantoni, and instead ordered the military to launch a massive rescue operation.

85.   The kidnappers have released some of their hostages, reportedly for ransom payments but have also beheaded over a dozen Filipinos and one American, Californian Guillermo Sobero.

86.   The Libyan government which previously brokered negotiations with the Abu Sayyaf for the release of foreign kidnap victims was also accused of channeling ransom payments to the group.