A Muslim extremist rebel leader has threatened to behead an American couple before the Philippine president’s visit to the United States next month, if the army does not halt its offensive on the group.

A Muslim separatist group in the Philippines today said it believed an American hostage was alive despite claims of another rebel group that they beheaded him.

Muslim rebels who kidnapped around 24 hostages, including three Americans, have dumped the beheaded bodies of two of their captives near a main road outside the capital of a remote island in the southern Philippines.

A top Philippines military spokesman said today that officials believe American hostage Guillermo Sobero is dead.

As the Philippines Government stepped up its battle with Muslim rebel hostage-takers today, the military said it found two bodies in guerrilla territory, but neither belonged to the American captive the insurgents claim to have beheaded.

Authorities were today anxiously awaiting contact with Muslim extremists as the rebels’ threatened to behead three American captives.

Authorities were today anxiously awaiting contact with Muslim extremists as the rebels’ threatened to behead three American captives.

Americans travelling in the Philippines are being urged to review their security arrangements and check with the US Embassy for the latest information following a kidnapping incident.