Article: Libyan envoy denies $25-M ransom offer.(Main News)

MANILA (AP) -- A Libyan envoy yesterday denied reports his country offered $25 million in ransom for European and Asian hostages being held by a Muslim rebel group in the southern Philippines.

Abdul Rajab Azzarouq, Libya's former ambassador to the Philippines, was reacting to reports last week in Beirut that Libya had made the offer.

"There is no truth to that. Our offer, which we talked about is a socio-economic package for livelihood projects," Azzarouq said, who has been involved in negotiations to free the captives held by the Abu Sayyaf rebels on Jolo island.

The chief government negotiator, Robert Aventajado, also denied the reports. But ...

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