CRI听力:Philippine Militants Threaten to Kill One of Two German Captives

Al-Qaeda linked Islamist militants in the Philippines have said they will kill one of two German captives on October 17 unless their demands are met.

The militants are demanding a 250 million peso or 5.6 million US dollar ransom, and for Germany to stop supporting U.S.-led air strikes against Islamic State militants in Syria.

Oscar Valenzuela, the executive director of the Philippine government's anti-terrorism council, says efforts are being made to secure the release of the German hostages.

"Of course the government, the armed forces and the police are conducting efforts to rescue these two hostages, and of course the policy of the government is a no ransom policy."

Rebels from the Abu Sayyaf group captured the two Germans sailing on a yacht from the western island of Palawan to the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah in April.

The Abu Sayyaf group rose to prominence in the early 2000s by kidnapping foreigners.

Analysts and Philippine security sources say the group has lately been focused on kidnap-for-ransom and other criminal activities.