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MANILA, Philippines — Al-Qaeda-linked militants in the southern Philippines said they will stick to today’s deadline to behead a Red Cross hostage unless government troops withdraw from the area, raising stakes in the 10-week crisis.
“The decision of the group is to behead if there will be no pullout,” Abu Sayyaf commander Abu Ali said in a cellphone text message Tuesday from the militant jungle stronghold on Jolo island.
About 120 gunmen have held the aid workers — Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba, Swiss Andreas Notter and Italian Eugenio Vagni — since Jan. 15.
