The U.S.-based family of American missionaries, Martin and Gracia Burnham, have sought the assistance of the U.S. government, saying they want their loved ones to be with them in the U.S. for Christmas.

The six-month captivity of the Burnhams by the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan is "a long suffering one", said the relatives in a radio interview.

The U.S. couple recently ap-pealed for the same kind of assistance in a radio interview, but the U.S. Embassy said it would not negotiate with the Abu Sayyaf, believed to have links with Saudi-born Osama bin Laden and his Al Qaida terrorist network.

Meanwhile, military and police agents said they have uncovered a widespread terrorist recruitment network in the Philippines, following the recent arrest of three Arabs, believed to have direct links with Bin Laden and Al Qaida.

A dozen terrorist leaders are still based in Metro Manila, Zamboanga City, Sultan Kudarat City and Davao City, including Cebu, central Philippines, said sources, adding that government agents have been closely monitoring these areas.

"Terrorist leaders who remain at large have sought refuge in those places," said the same sources, adding the intelligence reports have assisted police and military authorities in the recent arrest of Mohammad Sabri Selamah, Ahamad bin Masria, both Palestinians; and Hussam Al Dden Hasan Ali of Amman, Jordan.

Their colleagues are being tracked down by police and military agents from the anti-terrorism unit Task Force Sanlahi, sources said, adding the names of the other suspects were tracked down because the recently arrested foreign nationals have been freely communicating with Bin Laden's top lieutenants.

Masria and Al Dden Hasan Ali have been established as legitimate job recruiters of the Aska International Services office in Manila's Ermita district.

But they have been processing travel documents for recruits from the Philippines, who would undergo training in camps in Pakistan and in Afghanistan, authorities claimed.