IRISH priest Fr Michael Sinnott, who was being held hostage by rebels in the Philippines, was released last night.

Death came close for Filipino hostage Angelo dela Cruz, who says Iraqi insurgents at one point sharpened a sword and probed his neck for the right spot to cut.

A MILITANT group holding two Bulgarian truck drivers hostage in Iraq said last night it had executed one of them and planned to kill the other in 24 hours.

The Philippine government was waiting for information today after making a direct appeal to the insurgents holding a Filipino hostage to spare his life.

The Philippine government made a direct appeal early today to insurgents holding a Filipino hostage, pleading with them to show mercy for the man they pledged to kill if the country did not agree to pull its troops from Iraq early.