Kidnappers in Philippines 'threatened to kill girl'

The mother of a girl kidnapped in the Philippines has told how the gang threatened to kill her child if she told police.

Six-year-old Eiman April Grant was snatched at gunpoint by Muslim guerillas on the remote island of Basilan who demanded money. Government troops and civilian militiamen are now seaching for the guerillas in the region's jungles.

Her mother Mina Rasul Grant, whose husband is in Scotland, told a Philippine radio station that four men speaking in a local Muslim dialect approached the family house and at first asked for a drink of water, but then demanded money.

When she handed over P1,000 (about £13), the gunmen demanded an additional P100,000 (about £1,300).

She said she could not pay, so they grabbed Eiman at gunpoint and told her to raise the money.

Mrs Grant said: "I pleaded with them but they did not listen. They threatened to kill my child if I told the police and military."

Douglas Grant, 50, who runs a guesthouse in Inverness, said the family has been going through hell since his step-daughter was kidnapped.

The couple have another daughter, 18-month-old Khadija.