Two Americans and a Filipino hostage of the Abu Sayyaf pleaded for their release on Sunday and lamented the refusal of the Philippine government to negotiate with the Basilan-based extremist group for their freedom, a TV report yesterday showed.

Gracia Burnham cried while being interviewed by Filipino TV journalist Arlene Dela Cruz.

"This is a tragedy," the American hostage said as she wept. Her husband, Martin, appealed for compassion as he noted that their three children needed them.

"There is no substitute for parents," Martin said during the interview aired on channel Net 25.

The three young Burnham children have been left in the care of relatives and friends following the abduction of the couple six months ago.

The middle-aged American couple and Yap, in their first TV interview held at a militant stronghold deep in the jungles of the southern island of Basilan, appeared frail and weak after months of living on the run with the extremists.

Dela Cruz, while airing her report on the hostages yesterday, said her feet were bruised from the long walks. The hostages told her they subsisted on bananas and root crops.

"We realise things have changed since September 11 but this is very personal to us. We want to be with our children," Martin was quoted by Dela Cruz as saying during the interview.

Gracia lamented the absence of negotiations for their release. She said that the Philippine government had sent an emissary to negotiate for the release of Jeffrey Schilling, an American held by the Abu Sayyaf in Jolo late last year.

She asked if Schilling's release had been negotiated after nine months of captivity because "he was not really a hostage, (because) he walked in."