Article: Abu Sayyaf threaten to kill hostage despite appeal

Al-Qaida-linked militants in the southern Philippines said they will stick to a Tuesday deadline to behead a Red Cross hostage unless government troops withdraw from the area, raising stakes in the 10-week crisis despite appeals from Pope Benedict XVI and others to free the three captives.

"The decision of the group is to behead if there will be no pullout," Abu Sayyaf commander Abu Ali told The Associated Press in a cell phone text message Tuesday from the militant jungle stronghold on Jolo island.

"There will be no extension of the deadline for the pullout and we have no plan to release any hostage if there will be no pullout," he said.

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