Security alert for US tourists in Philippines

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.

The military launched an air and sea search after a couple of dozen ski-masked gunmen raided a resort at dawn before fleeing by boat with about 20 hostages, including three American tourists.

The kidnapping occurred at the Dos Palmas island resort at Honda Bay in Palawan province, about 375 miles south-west of Manila, and those taken included guests and staff.

Military officials said the guests were believed to include 13 Chinese Filipinos, three Americans and at least one child.

Two of the Americans were identified as Martin and Gracia Burnham, missionaries from Wichita, Kansas, who have lived in the Philippines since around 1986 and have been working for the New Tribes Mission.

The other American was listed in the resort guestbook as Guillermo Sobero, who is due to mark his 40th birthday on Tuesday.

The kidnappers headed south towards islands that are home to Muslim extremists who took foreign hostages last year or towards Malaysia, which has offered co-operation to the Philippines.

Several hours later, military chief Diomedio Villanueva said the group had apparently been tracked down.

But as darkness fell, search planes were recalled for the night and the government would not say if it knew for certain where the group was. The sea search was continuing.

Rigoberto Tiglao, spokesman for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, says there were concerns about the hostages' safety if a showdown developed. He stated: "The president condemns this dastardly criminal act of desperate, ruthless bandits."

Vowing not to enter into negotiations with the hostage-takers, or to pay any ransom, Mr Tiglao said the attackers seemed to have taken advantage of the widespread deployment of police and troops to stem violence following the May 14 elections.

Final election results have not been released as vote totals slowly filter in from far-flung parts of the country.