The last two surviving hostages held by the Abu Sayyaf group in the southern Philippines have escaped from their captors. The security forces said the two Filipino women were now safe in their hands. The Abu Sayyaf is a group of armed Filipino Muslims which the United States regards as terrorists. Only one of the Abu Sayyaf’s hostages now remains unaccounted for and military officers say they believe he is dead. A military spokesman said soldiers had recovered the hostages on the island of Jolo, a stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf in the extreme south-west of the Philippines. Both women were said to be unharmed. They were among six members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, who were abducted on Jolo in August last year. The kidnappers beheaded two male hostages. Two other women hostages escaped earlier this year. Full Story