Hostage tells family to expect him home

A FILIPINO held hostage in Iraq told his family in a videotaped message aired yesterday he would be home soon, but the militants holding him said he would be freed only after Manila withdrew its troops from Iraq.

However, the Philippine military was still awaiting orders to leave, a day after the government said it would pull its troops out of Iraq to save Angelo de la Cruz, despite pressure from the US for its Asian ally not to cave in to the demands.

A message recorded by the kidnappers appeared to extend a previous deadline beyond July 20 but said de la Cruz would not be handed over until all Philippine troops had left Iraq.