MANILA - AUTHORITIES in the Philippines declared a state of emergency on Tuesday on the restive island of Jolo after the expiry of a deadline by Islamic militants threatening to behead a Red Cross hostage.

The deadline passed at 0600 GMT (2 pm Singapore time) but there was no information as to whether the Abu Sayyaf gunmen holding a total of three Red Cross workers hostage had carried out their threat.

Philippines military poised to attack kidnappers ZAMBOANGA (Philippines) - TROOPS prepared Tuesday to attack Islamic militants holding three Red Cross workers hostage in the Philippines, officials said, after a deadline to behead one of them passed. Five hours after the 0600 GMT (2 pm Singapore time ) deadline expired, provincial governor Abdusakur Tan said the three, who were abducted on January 15 during a humanitarian mission on southern Jolo island, had not been harmed. ... more

Pope Benedict XVI issued a last-minute appeal for their lives, as did the Red Cross, but the government and military have resolutely refused to bow to the militants' ultimatum to withdraw all troops from five towns on Jolo.

As the deadline expired, Jolo governor Abdusakur Tan issued a proclamation authorising police action against the militants, restricting the movement of civilians and imposing a curfew on the southern island of about 645,000 people.

'Governor Tan has declared a state of emergency,' Lieutenant Colonel Edgard Arevalo, spokesman for the Marines on Jolo, told reporters.

Asked later whether the order meant a full-scale assault was to be carried out, Mr Tan told AFP: 'That will be the action against the Abu Sayyaf, against terrorism and their cohorts.' He added that fresh negotiations were unlikely at this stage.

Filipina Mary Jean Lacaba, Andreas Notter of Switzerland and Eugenio Vagni of Italy were abducted on Jolo on January 15 during a humanitarian mission.

The government had earlier given in to a rebel demand and completed a tactical retreat from the sprawling jungle area controlled by the Abu Sayyaf. Agreeing to withdraw all troops from the five towns would however restrict Philippine forces to a small area near Jolo's capital, and would leave residents vulnerable to attacks.

Jakob Kellenberger, who heads the International Committee of the Red Cross, urged the Abu Sayyaf to free the three ICRC workers.

'Our message to Abu Sayyaf is: please spare and release Mary Jean, Eugenio and Andreas,' he said an appeal issued in Manila and Geneva. 'All they were doing was helping people in need in your area. There is no ideology or religious law that could justify killing them.' -- AFP