Kidnapped Westerners said freed in Philippines

MANILA, May 31 (Reuters) Muslim rebels in the southern Philippines said they had secured the release of two Westerners -- a man and a woman -- and two Filipinos only hours after they were taken captive today.

Eid Kabalu, spokesman for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), said the armed men who kidnapped the four people were forced to free their captives when they were stopped by Muslim guerrillas in Pikit town on Mindanao island.

''We have the four hostages in our hands,'' Kabalu told Reuters by telephone from his hideout in Cotabato City. ''Our forces are in control of the area. We'll turn over the hostages to the army tomorrow.'' The army had earlier said four Westerners and their driver had been kidnapped by unidentified gunmen near Pikit.

Kabalu said the MILF rebels had signed an agreement with the government in May 2002 promising to help Philippine security forces ''isolate and interdict'' criminal groups operating within Muslim rebel areas of Mindanao.

Colonel Pedro Soria, an army brigade commander in Cotabato province, said his troops were informed the MILF had taken the four hostages -- two German nationals and two Filipino guides -- into their custody.

''We've sent some soldiers to pick up the hostages and bring them either to Davao City or to an army base near Cotabato City,'' Soria said.

REUTERS PS HT1552