ZAMBOANGA Abu Sayyaf Muslim extremists on Tuesday threatened to kill an American man they claim to have abducted unless Washington freed World Trade Center bomber Ramzi Youssef and two other convicts.
"We will not hesitate to execute this American guy if the Philippine and U.S. governments don't listen to our demands," Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Sabaya told reporters in an interview through a local radio station.
According to an AFP report, Abu Sabaya announced over DXRZ Radio in the southern city of Zamboanga earlier Tuesday that the gunmen were holding Jeffrey Craig Schilling, who they claim is a spy for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
He read out what he said was the captive's passport number and said the document identified him as from Minnesota.
"If Philippine President Joseph Estrada and President Bill Clinton do not listen to our demands, we will shame the governments," he warned in the interview.
Abu Sabaya said that aside from World Trade Center bomber Youssef, the Abu Sayyaf were also demanding the release of Abdurahman Omar and Abu Haider, also being held in U.S. prisons.
It was unclear if Abdurahman Omar is Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman, a Muslim cleric jailed in New York City.
Haider is reported to be one of the teachers of an Abu Sayyaf leader although it is unclear why he is in jail.
Abu Sabaya said the Abu Sayyaf would make known "two more demands" in three days for the release of the American.
We cannot reveal it now," he said.
Asked by reporters if he would allow the captive to speak to the press, he said: "Maybe in three days we will allow him but today we will not allow him." The Abu Sayyaf gunmen are holding three Frenchmen, two Finns and a German along with 17 Filipino hostages on the southern island of Jolo.
He described the American's condition as "okay" and added that the kidnapping was "sanctioned" by the Abu Sayyaf leadership.
Abu Sabaya said Schilling tried to pass himself as a Muslim while he was being "interrogated" but "he later broke down and admitted that he was CIA."