Philippine government pleads for hostage's life

The Philippine government made a direct appeal early today to insurgents holding a Filipino hostage, pleading with them to show mercy for the man they pledged to kill if the country did not agree to pull its troops from Iraq early.

The appeal came hours after Iraq’s interim president lashed out at guerrillas who have killed hundreds of Iraqis in recent months and promised to use a “very sharp sword” against anyone threatening Iraq’s security.

Philippine Under-secretary of Foreign Affairs Rafael Seguis went on the Arab television station Al-Jazeera today in an effort to secure Angelo dela Cruz’s release.

Insurgents have said they would kill the truck driver by 3am Manila time (8pm Irish time) if the Philippines did not agree to pull its 51-member peacekeeping force by July 20. The government has re-stated that its troop commitment ends on August 20.

Seguis said today the Philippines would pull its troops out “as soon as possible”.

When questioned by the newscaster as to when that would be, he said a pullout would come according to the government’s commitments.

It appeared the statement may have been deliberately ambiguous in a bid to save dela Cruz. The Philippine government did nothing to clarify the issue.

“Let us leave the government to do what is necessary to save the life of an innocent Filipino and to uphold our nation’s interest,” presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said.

Several explosions were heard Tuesday in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, and a cloud of dust could be seen rising above the so-called Green Zone. It was not immediately clear if an explosion had occurred in the area, which was the headquarters of the former US-led occupation authorities.

Iraqi officials have been talking increasingly tough about those who continue to carry out attacks across the country – even though the two-week-old Iraqi government has been discussing offering a limited amnesty to militants to put down the 14-month-old insurgency.

“Terrorism isn’t just killing and blowing up bombs, whoever threatens the ordinary life of the people is a terrorist,” President Ghazi al-Yawer told a news conference. “We have a very sharp sword ready for anyone who threatens the security of this country.”

Al-Yawer’s words appeared carefully chosen, reflecting a classical Arab symbol of might in the sword and threatening militants, some of whom have beheaded hostages, with their own chosen weapon.

Al-Yawer, a leader of the Shammar tribe, said the government planned to announce an amnesty soon, and he appealed to militants to seize the opportunity to lay down their weapons, or “there will be the sword".

Diplomats moved quickly to help Iraq restore order, with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan choosing veteran Pakistani diplomat Ashraf Jehangir Qazi as the new UN envoy to Iraq.

Qazi, the ambassador to Washington, will replace Sergio Vieira de Mello, who was one of 22 people killed in the August 19, 2003, bombing at UN headquarters in Baghdad.

In Brussels, European Union foreign ministers pledged to help promote a stable democracy in Iraq by offering economic aid – as soon as security allowed. Making a quick, heavily guarded trip to Brussels, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari thanked the EU for being the largest donor of humanitarian aid to Iraq but called for more “direct assistance”.

Zebari visits Nato headquarters in Brussels to meet with Nato Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, who said he plans to present allies this month with options for a wider alliance role in Iraq, beyond the military training already pledged.