Muslim rebels in the southern Philippines have beheaded four more hostages taking the death toll to nine since the Abu Sayyaf militia attacked a Christian village two days ago.
Civilian groups and the army said today they had recovered four more headless corpses in two villages on the island of Basilan, 560 miles south of Manila.
A total of nine Christian hostages have now been found executed by the Abu Sayyaf since Thursday's raid on Balobo village near the town of Lamitan in which more than 30 people were abducted.
"Everybody is very sad. There should be a non-stop operation," Lamitan Mayor Inocente Ramos told reporters.
"I believe there are three groups that attacked the village. I believe they were executed on the same night of the attack on the village," the mayor said.
Two villagers managed to escape after the attack on Thursday and nine were set free, the army said.