Four hostages escaped in the dead of night as the Abu Sayyaf laid siege to Lamitan town, Basilan province in southern Philippines and herded another 200 people captive. Lamitan town was the scene of fierce fighting and reports said six soldiers had died, while scores were wounded.

Helicopter gunships showered the Basilan jungles with rockets as Lamitan echoed with the staccato report of gunshots. Abu Sayyaf snipers fired at troops from roof-tops, preventing them from encircling the town.

The four hostages have been identified as Raul Recio, eight, Riza Santos, 29, Reghis Romero, 50, a businessman, and Eldrin Morales, a guard of Dos Palmas resort in Palawan, southwestern Philippines. They escaped at around 1am yesterday when the rebels stormed Lamitan town and rounded up a fresh group of 200 people. They were taken to a hospital and church complex.

Three of the four hostages were taken to meet President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo while she was having dinner with U.S. Senator Richard Lugar. Even as this drama unfolded, Manila appointed William Castillo, as government negotiator to talk with the Abu Sayyaf for the release of the hostages.

Manila, however, stressed that Castillo has been appointed merely to discuss the release of hostages. He is not a middleman to negotiate ransom. Meanwhile, reports said the highest ranking leader of the Abu Sayyaf, Khadaffy Janjalani died of gunshot wounds at a hospital in Lamitan town in Basilan yesterday.