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The Abu Sayyaf group aborted the planned release of two Filipinos out of more than 20 hostages they are holding on Basilan island in the southern Philippines over the presence of troops near the area where the rebels had planned to release 15-year-old Lalaine Chua and Luis Bautista, 32.

Government soldiers yesterday rescued three coconut plantation workers earlier kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf group in southern Basilan province after security forces stormed a rebel encampment in Lantawan town, an Army spokesman said.