1. A court set for Thursday the trial of an alleged leader of the Muslim extremist group Abu Sayyaf which has kidnapped scores of foreigners in the southern Philippines. 2. Abu Sayyaf guerrillas rose to international notoriety last year when they kidnapped scores of foreigners, including some vacationing at a Malaysian dive resort. 3. Abu Sayyaf rebels rose to international prominence last year when they kidnapped scores of foreigners before freeing them, reportedly in exchange for huge ransoms. 4. An alleged leader of the Muslim extremist group Abu Sayyaf, which has kidnapped scores of foreigners in the southern Philippines, went on trial Thursday on drug charges. 5. In recent years, tribesmen seeking better roads or schools for their impoverished provinces have kidnapped scores of tourists but usually released them unharmed after treating them as guests. 6. In the past tribes people have kidnapped scores of foreigners to win economic concessions from the government but have usually treated the hostages well and released them unharmed. 7. In the past two years, the Abu Sayyaf has become infamous for kidnapping scores of foreigners and Filipinos. 8. In the past, tribesmen have kidnapped scores of foreigners to win economic concessions from the government but have usually freed the hostages safely. 9. In the past six months it has kidnapped scores of people. 10. In the past, Yemeni tribesmen have kidnapped scores of foreigners to win economic concessions from the government, but they generally have been freed unharmed. |