President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo called Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi on Saturday night after learning from the Libyan embassy that he had expressed an interest in helping resolve the latest Abu Sayyaf hostage crisis, according to a senior official.

"The Libyan government is available for whatever help the Philippines would need, and ask for, in settling the kidnapping crisis," Presidential spokesperson Rigoberto Tiglao quoted Gaddafi as saying.

No specific form of assistance was discussed, said Tigalo, adding that Arroyo expressed her appreciation of Libya's offer of help. When he asked about the Abu Sayyaf kidnapping crisis in Mindanao, Gaddafi pledged he was "joining the Muslim world in condemning the criminal group's terrorist and kidnapping activities," said Tiglao.

"Mr. Gaddafi emphasised that his government and Islam itself oppose the Abu Sayyaf's terrorism and its criminal kidnapping actions," Tiglao quoted Gaddafi as saying. Arroyo expressed confidence that military operations would result in the rescue of the victims and the decimation of the Abu Sayyaf leaders, said Tiglao.

Gaddafi also said he supported the Philippine government's no-ransom policy. Gaddafi's non-government organisation, led by his son, worked for the release of an estimated 40 hostages who were abducted by the Abu Sayyaf in Malaysia's Sipadan island resort in April 2000, and in Jolo between July and August last year.

Gaddafi had complained he could not get through to Arroyo's contact numbers late on Saturday, so Arroyo phoned him. One of the main topics of their conversation was the coming peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), scheduled to start on June 20.

Gaddafi repeated his support for the peace talks, and thanked Arroyo for accepting Libya's offer to host them in Tripoli, Libya. Arroyo also thanked Gaddafi for his support for the Philippine government's peace efforts, and for hosting the talks.

The Libyan government, a member of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), had helped broker the peace settlement between the Philippine government and the mainstream Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in 1996. The talks began in 1992.

Libya and the OIC were instrumental in making the MILF give up its secessionist stance, and in accepting autonomy in the proposed peace settlement, sources said.