Muslim rebels release all remaining hostages in Philippines

Heavily armed Muslim rebels released 89 hostages today in exchange for safe passage through Philippine military forces that have besieged them for more than 24 hours.

They freed a group of 21 hostages earlier. Then, after enduring a series of assaults by war planes, helicopter gunships and infantry, and wading through all-night negotiations, about 250 heavily armed rebels loyal to renegade Muslim region Governor Nur Misuari departed on trucks that were to take them to another guerrilla base.