Filipino troops kill rebel commander, rescue last Indonesian hostage

Three of the four Indonesian hostages that were rescued by the Filipino special forces are (from left) Arizal Kasta Miran, Arsad Bin Dahlan and Andi Riswanto. - The Star/ANN

MANILA, March 21 (AP): Philippine troops killed an Abu Sayyaf rebel commander blamed for years of ransom kidnappings and on Sunday rescued the last of his four Indonesian captives, the military said.

Marines wounded Amajan Sahidjuan in a gunbattle Saturday night and he later died from loss of blood on Kalupag Island in the southernmost province of Tawi Tawi. Two other militants managed to flee and dragged along the last of four Indonesian hostages but troops finally rescued him on Sunday, regional military commander Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr. said.