Concession to kidnappers wins lifeline for US hostage

Minutes before a deadline by Muslim extremists to behead an American captive, the Philippine Government today dropped its objection to bringing in a Malaysian negotiator in an effort to end a two-week-old hostage crisis.

As the noon (5am Irish time) deadline passed, Abu Sayyaf leader Abu Sabaya called in by satellite telephone to a local radio station, saying he may postpone the execution if the Malaysian Government confirmed it would allow Senator Sairin Karno to enter the negotiations.