20 July 2000 - AFP

JOLO, Philippines, June 20 (AFP) - Seven Malaysians among dozens of hostages held by Philippine Muslim rebels waited in vain for their scheduled flight to freedom Wednesday after being ransomed for three million dollars, sources close to the negotiations said.

But helicopters that were supposed to pluck them from Jolo island did not show up due to a power outage that disabled the remote island's telecommunications system, said the sources, who asked not to be named.

Jolo was still blacked out on Wednesday night, but the sources insisted the setback was only temporary and that the Malaysians were now expected to be released on Thursday.

The Malaysians, part of a larger group of tourists and resort workers abducted from the Malaysian resort of Sipadan on April 23, were removed from the Abu Sayyaf jungle hideout overnight and taken to another safe house where go-betweens waited, they said.

But they were grounded when the emissaries failed to give the signal for the aircraft to take off from nearby Zamboanga city, where they were to catch another flight to Malaysia.

"A power breakdown hit the whole of Jolo, communication lines were severed, we were unable to call Zamboanga and the plane could not take off," an emissary told AFP.

Apart from the seven Malaysians, Abu Sayyaf rebels on Jolo are holding hostage five French citizens, three Germans, two Finns, two South Africans, a Lebanese and 18 Filipinos.

The Malaysians are now in the custody of neutral emissaries but Abu Sayyaf gunmen also remained in the safe house somewhere in central Jolo, the sources said.

Government intelligence sources earlier Wednesday said the Malaysians had been released and taken by boat to Zamboanga.

Chief government negotiator Roberto Aventajado later denied the report while stressing their release was "still in the works."

The emissary who spoke to AFP said the reported boat trip was a "diversionary tactic" to throw off bandits who could prey on the Malaysian hostages about to be freed.

"The plan was for the government emissaries to pluck the Malaysians out of (Jolo) on board two helicopters but there was a problem because the person who was to inform Zamboanga about the release did not call due to the blackout," the emissary said.

Aventajado cut short a meeting with President Joseph Estrada in Manila and rushed to Zamboanga when it became apparent the Malaysians would not show.

"There was a leak to the press," Aventajado said, without elaborating.

A government emissary said earlier the Abu Sayyaf were paid three million dollars to free the seven Malaysians and two other compatriots who were released over the past month.

The Abu Sayyaf also freed ailing 56-year-old German teacher Renate Wallert on Monday, also after reportedly receiving ransom.

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