The Basilan Regional Trial Court in southern Philippines has ordered the arrest of Abu Sayyaf leader, Khadafy Janjalani, in connection with the recent mass kidnapping of 20 tourists, including three hotel staffers, from a resort in Palawan, south-western Philippines, last May 27, a senior official said.

Thirty-four other leaders and members of the Abu Sayyaf were also included in the arrest order, Chief Supt. Nestorio Gualberto, chief of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, said in a radio interview.

The government has used the statements of Abu Sayyaf spokesman, Abu Sabaya, with regard to their demands for the release of the hostages as evidence against the hostage-takers.

The government has rejected the group's demands, which were often aired on a radio programme in Mindanao. They called for the establishment of an independent Islamic state in Muslim-populated areas in Mindanao. The group also wanted a Malaysian negotiator after rejecting Manila's appointed intermediary.

Relatives of the hostages said they were contacted by the relatives of the Abu Sayyaf members who demanded a $ 200,000 (P 10 million) ransom payment for each of the 20 tourists who were taken from Palawan. Three of them are American nationals.

Although nine of the hostages taken from Palawan remain in custody, the Abu Sayyaf Group has increased its hostages to 63, after a rampage through Lamitan town in Basilan, near Zamb-oanga port city, last weekend.

A total of 15 soldiers have died in the failed military offensive against the Abu Sayyaf Group, but Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman, Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan, said the hostage-takers have suffered a higher number of casualties.

The government also lost a former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) member who was integrated into the military after the government-MNLF peace settlement in 1996, noted Brig. Gen. Adan.

The military has been saying it needs hi-tech equipment to handle the terrorists in southern Philippines. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has suffered embarrassment after the Abu Sayyaf Group escaped with more than 60 hostages at night, from a heavily guarded Lamitan town, in Basilan, last Sunday.