The Armed Forces of the Philippines has released a video which portrays the gruesome beheading by the Abu Sayyaf Group of two captured soldiers in Basilan, southern Philippines in a clear bid to quash opposition to joint U.S. operations against the kidnap gang.

"They are beasts. They do not respect human life," said Roberto Capco, the press undersecretary at President Gloria Arroyo's office, defending the government's decision to release the tapes.

"It's about time we understand the nature of our enemy, that is terrorism," said Armed Forces Spokesman Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan, adding, "We decided to show this in order to impress upon our people and convince those who still have doubts about the true nature of our situation in Basilan."

The savage images have shocked this predominantly Roman Catholic country, with some left-wing groups and senators criticising the government move.

Aired over leading television networks late Monday, the footage shows Abu Sayyaf gunmen armed with machetes questioning a Philippine soldier, his hands tied and kneeling on the ground as he begs for mercy.

The soldier is told to pray as a rebel approaches him from behind, and with one swift swing, chops off his head. Another wounded soldier, sprawled on the ground, is shown being hacked repeatedly on the neck, apparently with a blunt weapon that failed to do the job in one swing. Afterwards, an Abu Sayyaf member picked up the soldier's severed head and threw it into the forest.

Three other victims were militiamen, but their names were not released. "This footage showed the capacity of the group for cruelty against innocent civilians who are defending their homes," said Adan.

The video footage, reportedly recorded by an Abu Sayyaf cameraman also included an encounter between the Abu Sayyaf group and soldiers of the 44th Infantry Battallion in the village of Kapayawan in Basilan in 1995.

Military men from the 103rd Brigade got hold of the video tape during a raid on an Abu Sayyaf camp in Basilan last year, said Adan.

Television networks aired the video-tape on Monday night and yesterday afternoon. "Some of these tapes were sent abroad to gather support for the extremist terrorists in our land," claimed Adan.

"A portion of the tape shows the cameraman giving directions on what the beheader should do. I believe the tapes were made by the group to show to their sponsors abroad that they are winning the war in Mindanao," said Press Undersecretary Roberto Capco.

"We also discovered that their video equipment was PAL-SECAM. The tapes were dated 1994, 1995, and 1996. We have evidence showing that the Al Qaida network was here in Philippines until 1995," said Capco.

"There were many young kids who saw the tape and the unmitigated violence of beheading," said Catholic priest Father Robert Reyes.

"The tape has made us angry, but it has made us ask, the atrocities of the Abu Sayyaf group have been going on for a long time, why is it that the military could not put an end to it?" said an observer, who identified herself as Lani.

"The Abu Sayyaf Group should be punished for what they have done," said another observer, identified as Eugenia.

"The tape is giving the impression that all Muslims are doing such a thing," said Usop Kazan.

"We don't need a tape to show graphically the atrocities committed by the Abu Sayyaf Group. We know what they have been doing," said Congresswoman Imee Marcos.

The showing of the video-tapes drew mixed reactions from government officials and ordinary citizens.

The group has beheaded dozens of hostages, most of them Christian missionaries and farmers.

The group beheaded American national Guillermo Sobero, as 'a gift' to President Gloria Arroyo on the country's commemoration of Independence day on June 12, 2001. The group beheaded three victims as 'a gift' to former President Joseph Estrada in 1999.